Border wall kept virus out: Trump
YUMA, Ariz. — President Donald Trump visited the U.S.-Mexico border Tuesday to celebrate construction of more than 200 miles of wall, hoping it will remind voters of progress he’s made toward one his 2016 campaign promises.
Trump credited the wall with stopping not just illegal immigration but also the coronavirus, saying “It stopped COVID, it stopped everything.”
But his visit played out as top public health officials in Washington were testifying about the ongoing threat posed by the coronavirus and singling out Arizona as one of the states now experiencing a surge in cases.
Trump was looking to regain campaign momentum after his weekend rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was supposed to be a sign of the nation’s reopening and a show of political force but instead generated thousands of empty seats and swirling questions about the president’s campaign leadership and his case for another four years in office. The low turnout sharpened the focus on Trump’s visit to Arizona, which doubles as both a 2020 battleground state and a surging coronavirus hot spot.
By visiting the border, Trump sought to change the subject to an issue he believes will help electrify his base in November.
“Our border has never been more secure,” Trump declared as he met with Republican Gov. Doug Ducey and federal Border Patrol officials.
Throughout the trip, COVID-19 is shadowing Trump. The Democratic mayor of Phoenix made clear she does not believe the speech can be safely held in her city — and urged the president to wear a face mask.
Trump has refused to wear a mask in public, instead turning it into a red-vs.-blue cultural issue. Polling suggests Republicans are far less likely to wear face coverings than Democrats despite health experts’ warnings that it dramatically reduces the risk of transmitting the virus.
Since late May, Arizona has emerged as one of the nation’s most active hot spots for the spread of COVID-19.
Photos of restaurants and bars crowded with unmasked patrons ignited controversy. Ducey, a Trump supporter, reversed himself last week and allowed cities and counties to require people to wear masks in public places. Most have, including Phoenix and Yuma and the counties that surround them.
Arizona is seeing disturbing trends in several benchmarks, including the percentage of tests that prove positive for the virus, which is the highest in the nation.