As Trump played down virus, health experts’ alarm grew

Public health officials already were warning Americans about the need to prepare for the coronavirus threat in early February when President Donald Trump called it “deadly stuff” in a private conversation that now has come to light.

Trump, however, had a louder megaphone than his health experts, and in public he was playing down the threat. Three days after delivering his “deadly” assessment in a private call with journalist Bob Woodward, he told a New Hampshire rally Feb. 10, “It’s going to be fine.”

Mixed safety messages added to confusion. There was considerable discussion about wearing masks in the early days of the pandemic, with leading experts advising the public against it, saying to leave the masks for health care workers.

Critics long have noted how Trump’s public comments failed to sync up with those of public health officials, contributing to confusion among Americans.