One of the most cataclysmic developments of former President Donald Trump's time in office was his handling of the pandemic that's killed over 650 thousand Americans.
Trump's approach to the crisis was defined by his trademark denial of reality. From the start, as health officials warned the virus' outbreak in the United States was imminent, Trump and his supporters insisted the virus wouldn't ever arrive. By the time the country had shut down in April, Trump claimed it would be back open by Easter. He repeatedly undermined and politicized public safety guidelines—a move that continues to have consequences today.
Now, emails released by the House subcommittee regarding the pandemic, published by the Washington Post, show that Trump's officials were unsettled by his handling of the pandemic all the way back in February, as the first cases of COVID-19 were being reported in the United States. They were warning of "critical mistakes" the White House was making.
As Trump was calling the virus a "hoax," virologist Steven Hatfill—then an advisor to Trump—wrote to trade director Peter Navarro:
"In truth we do not have a clue how many are infected in the USA. We are expecting the first wave to spread in the U.S. within the next 7 days. This will be accompanied by a massive loss of credibility and the Democratic accusations are just now beginning. This must be countered with frank honesty about the situation and decisive direct actions that are being taken and can be seen in the broadcast news."
This led Navarro to warn Trump of the situation's urgency in a memo, emphasizing that their response was "NOT fast enough."
Nevertheless, Trump boasted to the public only five days later that the administration was "prepared for anything" and that "anybody that wants a test can get a test," despite widespread shortages.
The Post's report was just further confirmation of the administration's ineptitude and denial defining its pandemic response.
Yeah, TFG ignoring intelligence and downplaying Covid are the biggest of the critical mistakes...https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1437820210862510091\u00a0\u2026— Jeff Mayers (@Jeff Mayers) 1631646270
How many people might still be alive were it not for Trump\u2019s negligence?https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1437820210862510091\u00a0\u2026— Sally Duval (@Sally Duval) 1631644476
Anyone who thought Trump would listen to anyone who didn't think he was a genius was just wasting oxygen.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1437820210862510091\u00a0\u2026— Rusty Author (@Rusty Author) 1631640818
They knew they were killing people.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1437820210862510091\u00a0\u2026— Nioshii (@Nioshii) 1631638561
There should be a law that those who govern cannot willfully deceive those who are governed especially with regard to a national emergency.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1437820210862510091\u00a0\u2026— Brian Davis (@Brian Davis) 1631638492
The GOP continues to follow the former administration's playbook of dismissing the virus's threat.
I will never understand how Republicans can lose family to COVID-19 and still be too proud to take it seriously.— Kate \ud83e\udd0d\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Kate \ud83e\udd0d\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1632057607
What's the difference between forced drug testing for benefits, or employment, and forced testing for COVID for benefits, or employment? \n\nNothing, but Republicans applaud one, while calling the other unconstitutional.— Jax Persists (@Jax Persists) 1632061691
I said what I said. I have no idea why Republicans; especially these Republican governors, chat show hosts etc love COVID so much. But they\u2019re embracing it like it\u2019s \u201cthe precious\u201d while fighting any and all attempts by doctors, scientists and the Biden administration to stop it.https://twitter.com/thereidout/status/1438279117577850891\u00a0\u2026— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37) 1631904086
