The coronavirus epidemic is almost entirely out of control. Florida recently broke the all-time state record for new Covid-19 infections in a single day, somewhat above 15,000. Then a few days later Florida recorded a higher rate putting the state within the five top jurisdictions in the world for new cases in a single day. As terrible as the epidemic in New York was, the highest number of new cases recorded in a single day was a little over 11,000. Texas and Arizona are also breaking records in new cases and in deaths from Covid-19. As of July 14—Bastille Day in France, but no holiday in the United States—the U.S. death total reached 136,000 with predictions of 200,000 deaths from Covid-19 by October 1st and perhaps 300,000 by the end of the year. The 1918 pandemic, the greatest of all time, caused 675,000 deaths in the United States but lasted over three years in its acute stage. Of course, influenza is still with us but, partially controlled by annual inoculations. This virus, however, is more deadly than the flu and it looks as though—at least at present—that it will surpass the 1918 pandemic in U.S. deaths.
What next? Maybe there will be a vaccine, maybe not. In any case, Trump obviously believes that lies can again hoodwink the public and maybe the virus too. For months Trump said there was no problem and did nothing. Then for a few weeks he suddenly let scientists dictate our response. The virus abated in early April, the fourth month of the epidemic in the U.S. But the “Trump” economy tanked because of stay-at-home orders and, in a few weeks, he was demanding that the economy open without following the health rules our scientific community had developed. The Governors of Florida, Texas and Arizona being Trump stooges followed orders. Things were OK for a few weeks. Then, as predicted by scientists led by top epidemiologist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the virus came roaring back, devastating the three states and reinfecting many other parts of the country where states had partially or wholly controlled the virus.
The virus is now virtually completely out of control. Trump, realizing this, has been blaming China but that ploy is becoming less plausible. Trump has begun blaming our top and most credible and effective leader in this struggle against the virus, Dr. Fauci, without himself as president ever presenting a national plan to the country for defeating the virus. Instead, chaos has run rampant in the country, with every governor, every mayor having to cope for himself or herself. Now Trump argues that he should be reelected to the presidency in the fall and given authorization to defeat the virus since the U.S. scientific community could not control—or rather was prevented by him from controlling—the virus. Will the alleged failure of American scientists be Trump’s Reichstag fire—the Hitler-implemented incident that Adolph Hitler used as justification to seize dictatorial powers in Germany?
Michael Gerson had a few things to say about this in his July 14th Post column entitled “Fauci will be Trumps most foolish attack:” “When historians try to identify the most shameful documents from the Trump Administration a few are likely to stand out… But for rash, foolish irresponsibility, I’d nominate the opposition research paper recently circulated by the White House in an attempt to discredit the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Anthony S. Fauci… As far as I know this official record is unique: a White House attack on the government’s leading infectious-disease scientist during a raging pandemic. It indicates an administration so far gone in rage, bitterness and paranoia that it can no longer be trusted to preserve American lives.” t Trump’s action is the equivalent of FDR’s putting out a press release declaring that General Eisenhower an incompetent general on the eve of the Normandy invasion.
By responding to the pandemic in terms of his own political interests, Trump appears not to care how much death, disease and economic pain are visited on the American people. In Gerson’s view the proper course for a leader against the pandemic is to make judgments “based on the best available information” and to make judgments that “have no other motive but the health of the public.” Trump fails on both counts; he does not make judgments based on the best information, opting at one point to consult a game show host for scientific analysis and all of his judgments are based on what he perceives as his own political interests.
In mid-April there was a moment when the virus was being contained at 25,000 new cases a day and four to six weeks more of enforceable stay at home orders might have driven the virus down to low sustainable levels as happened in Europe. But as Gerson puts it, Trump’s nerve failed him, and he gave in to populist demands to reopen and encouraged governors to reopen in a precipitous and dangerous manner. The result was catastrophe. Trump was “weak, weak, weak” at the defining moment.
There is perhaps another interpretation. Maybe Trump doesn’t want the virus to go away as he isn’t sure the economy will bounce back by November. In this case, the pandemic becomes his ticket to declaring an emergency in November and bypassing the election results to remain president should the vote goes against him. He has long admired dictators and he has several times expressed admiration for the Chinese decision to promote President Xi to paramount leader for life. A November emergency could be his chance. Trump doesn’t like such American principles as the rule of law, equal rights for all, free elections and the freedom of the press. He doesn’t even appear to like this country and its peoples, himself excluded of course. Such a move would put him on the list of America’s enemies where he would join people who thought or think as he does such as, Adolph Hitler, General Hideki Tojo, Vladimir Putin, Victor Orban and Xi Jinping.
CNN’s White House reporter Jim Acosta, after a discussion about Dr. Fauci, was asked who was left in the White House to restrain Trump. He replied that there isn’t anyone but those who have drunk the Kool-Aid and relatives. It seems clear that all involved in this exercise of attacking our top epidemiologist at the height of the pandemic, an act so deeply contrary to the interests and the health of America, so severe a threat to our national security, that they have forever disqualified themselves, from the President on down, from serving even one more day in our national government and should be removed in the most expeditious way possible, never to return.
Our Founders clearly agree.
“That people who pay greater respect to a wealthy villain than an honest upright man in poverty, almost deserve to be enslaved; they plainly show that the wealth however it may be acquired, is in their esteem to be preferred to virtue… Surely you never will tamely suffer this country to be a den of thieves.” – John Hancock, 1774
“It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.” – George Washington, 1796
“A constitution of government once changed from freedom can never be restored. Liberty once lost is lost forever.” – John Adams, 1775
“Those who would give up essential liberty to produce a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin, 1755
John Jay