United States President Donald Trump I was hoping this was the week he emerged in a nation recovering from the pandemic. Instead the pandemic came to him.
The day after breaking his self-isolation of the White House for a cross-country skiing trip intended to report the country’s willingness to start again, Trump received the news one of his Oval Office waiters tested positive for the virus.
Two days later, Press secretary of Vice President Mike Pence also tested positively – triggering another round of tests, delaying the vice president’s trip to Iowa and causing further tugs in the White House on who could be infected.
Why this is important: The arrival of the coronavirus in the west wing only served to illustrate the continued spread of the months of disease in a pandemic that led to over 77,000 American lives and turned a once hot economy into ice. Even deep night cleanings, regular tests and great contempt couldn’t stop the virus from getting to Trump’s doorstep.
While the President fusses over states to ease their restrictions and allow Americans to return to work and business, the sight of his aides contracting the disease has done little to increase confidence in the nation, ready to return to normal, even if unemployment claims skyrocket to never be seen – before the levels and options to revive the economy are not up to par.
At the same time, it had no obvious effect on Trump’s willingness to proceed normally on Friday, when he avoided a mask while visiting WWII nonagenarians and invited a large group of lawmakers to the White House for a meeting, all of whom are been tested before arriving. When asked why his staff wore no masks on Friday, Trump pointed to a White House official in the room he was: the White House photographer.
It’s all part of Trump’s usual approach which has become his default as he tries to overcome the epidemic.
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