Trump’s corona heats up campaign
Just as it’s certain that the sun’s corona will reveal itself each morning, so too was it inevitable that the president of the United States would contract the coronavirus. The combination of meeting an extraordinarily large number of people each day —many hailing from COVID-19 hotspots - and Mr. Trump’s penchant for downplaying the virus made it virtually guaranteed that, at some point, the president would be infected.
That point has come. Markets are roiling in uncertainty, the Republican faithful are experiencing a crisis of faith, and the health of the Free World’s leader is hanging in the balance.
Here’s a look at some of the implications of the president’s battle with coronavirus:
1) The president has been released from the hospital, but in no way does that mean he is out of the woods. Given that the most important election in modern times - and perhaps ever - is just a month away, Mr. Trump likely initiated an early release so that he could project an image of strength and stamina. Put another way, he instinctively realized that since a long hospital stay would decimate his chance for re-election, he had to get back to running the country as soon as possible. Yes, he is being monitored 24/7 by the world’s best physicians, and yes, he has all necessary medical equipment on site. But given the evasive non-answers of the president’s attending doctor, as well as the heavy-duty drugs Mr. Trump is being administered, the commander-in-chief’s condition remains uncertain.
2) There is an extremely important point which virtually no one is discussing. If Mr. Trump were to succumb to COVID, and it could be proven that this coronavirus was A) bio-engineered by the Chinese (very possible) and B) was deliberately released (quite plausible), that would be akin to the Chinese assassinating a sitting U.S. president - which could be considered an act of war. Don’t laugh - it’s not as crazy as it seems.
3) It was bad enough that some celebrated the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. But that sentiment is nothing compared to the appalling vitriol shown by many on the left. From celebrities to social media trolls to Zara Rahim - former top campaign staffer to both President Obama and Hillary Clinton, who reportedly tweeted, “…I hope he dies” - the hatred has reached unprecedented lows. You may not agree with Donald Trump on the issues, and you may despise him as a person, but he is a fellow human being, and the president of the United States, so he damn well deserves our well wishes and prayers. And to the snowflakes who claim “he isn’t my president,” here’s a news flash: You’re dead wrong. He absolutely is. If you don’t like that, then impeach him (oh wait, you already tried), vote him out, or follow through on your idiotic idle threats to “move to France.” Good luck and bon voyage, but until then, Mr. Trump is, in fact, your leader. So stop acting like petulant children and show some respect.
4) It’s not just President Trump who became infected, but much of his inner circle, all of whom likely contracted the virus during two “super-spreader events:” Debate preparation, and a party celebrating the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. In both instances, it was reported that masks were sparsely used, and social distancing guidelines were disregarded. This should come as no surprise, as the president, from Day One, has flouted the use of protective masks, even ridiculing those who do. As a result, many Trump sycophants, desperately trying to stay relevant, jettisoned both common sense and respect for others by following Mr. Trump’s ex
ample. Now, several U.S. senators have contracted the virus, placing the Barrett proceedings, and possible vote, in jeopardy. It doesn’t get any dumber than that.
What will it take for these people to realize that COVID-19 is not the ordinary flu, but a virulent, extremely contagious virus, completely new to the human body, and one which is still dumbfounding scientists? Not only should the government have been better prepared, but COVID should have never been downplayed by our leaders, from the president to Dr. Fauci.
From changing our behavior to understanding the pathogen, we have gotten better in combatting the coronavirus - which is exactly what makes the Republicans’ actions so incredibly maddening. They knew the rules on how to
mitigate risk, but choose to ignore those protocols at the worst possible time. Now, presidential confidant Chris Christie, who’s political acumen is top-notch, is in the hospital, Judge Barrett’s confirmation sits on the edge of a knife (and whose ascension to the court will have a greater impact than even the president’s re-election), and Mr. Trump’s chances diminish each day he isn’t completely healthy.
Ironically, all of it was preventable had just a little common sense been exercised. Instead, the GOP is potentially snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
5) The president is right on many policies, but when it comes to politics and personal decisions, he just can’t get out of his own way. In a recent video, he discusses his battle with the virus, stating, “I learned a lot … I understand it…I get it.” Great news - if only that were true. But it isn’t.
If Mr. Trump truly understood the insidious nature of this contagion, he would never have left the hospital to greet supporters. Instead of appearing at a window or stepping out front, he ordered a drive-by - while still heavily infected. In doing so, he violated both federal guidelines and common decency by being in such close proximity to his Secret Service detail. As a result, those agents will have to quarantine for 14 days, at best. At worst, they could die. What then? What would he tell their grieving families? “Sorry for your loss … but I had to wave to my fans?”
If that’s not a tailor-made commercial for Joe Biden, nothing is.
6) If done tactfully, Mr. Biden could launch a series of hardhitting commercials tied in to the president’s situation, with the tagline: “If the world’s most guarded man can’t even protect himself from this pandemic, how can we possibly trust him to protect us?” In real life, that doesn’t mean that Joe Biden would have done any better, but as the non-incumbent, he has the advantage of taking shots from the cheap seats.
But it would be a fool’s errand to count out The Donald, despite all the challenges that have recently befallen him. If he bounces back resoundingly, and returns to the campaign trail with his trademark energy, his victory over coronavirus could prove to be a, if not the, decisive factor in an election day win.
For four years, no matter how close the storm clouds got, the sun always managed to shine on Donald Trump. So don’t be surprised if, after beating one corona, the president is soon basking in the light of another.