Friday, April 24, 2020

Election 2020: Joe Biden v. Donald J. Trump on the Coronavirus, Part I

In the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic, there is actually a presidential election campaign going on.  While most Americans are not paying attention to the campaign yet, and are not likely to until September, both candidates are going on the record about the Coronavirus and what we need to do about it. In this introductory post, I will recap both candidates' statements on the pandemic and leave it to you, dear reader, to determine who has demonstrated competent political leadership. To maintain somewhat of an objective tone, I will present the statements with links to their authors and refrain from adding personal commentary. As much as is possible, I will present the statements in chronological order beginning in January of this year.

January 2020

President Trump's Statements:

January 22: President Trump is asked whether he has any concern about a pandemic after the first U.S. case of COVID-19 was identified in Washington State. His response:
  • "No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s — going to be just fine."

January 24: The president tweeted:

  • China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!
January 30: President Trump banned most travel to the United States from China. At his campaign rally that night he said:

January 27:
January 31:

February 2020

President Trump:

February 4:
February 10:
  • In an interview with Fox Business News, the president said:
    • President Trump: "Well, I think China is very, you know, professionally run in the sense that they have everything under control. I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon. You know in April, supposedly, it dies with the hotter weather. And that's a beautiful date to look forward to. But China I can tell you is working very hard. We're working with them. You know, we just sent some of our best people over there, World Health Organization and a lot of them are composed of our people. They're fantastic. And they're now in China, and we're helping them out. We're in very good shape. We have 11 cases and most of them are getting better very rapidly. I think they'll all be better." 
February 24:
  • President Trump tweeted:
    • "The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock Market starting to look very good to me!" 

      Source: Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Feb. 24, 2020
February 25:
  • President Trump tweeted:
    • "CDC and my Administration are doing a GREAT job of handling Coronavirus, including the very early closing of our borders to certain areas of the world... So far, by the way, we have not had one death. Let's keep it that way!
February 26:
  • The president held a press conference at which he said:
    • Press conference:

      Asked about previously proposed budget cuts to CDC, NIH, and WHO:

      "Some of the people we cut, they haven't been used for many, many years. And if — if we have a need, we can get them very quickly."

      On whether Americans can make summer travel plans:

      "[W]hen you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that's a pretty good job we've done."

      On the nature of coronavirus:

      "It’s a little like the regular flu that we have flu shots for. And we’ll essentially have a flu shot for this in a fairly quick manner… This is a flu. This is like a flu."

      On whether there is enough testing:

      "[W]e're testing everybody that we need to test. And we're finding very little problem." 

      Source: White House, "Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Conference" whitehouse.gov, Feb. 27, 2020
February 27:
  • Meeting with African American Leaders:

    "It's going to disappear. One day — it's like a miracle — it will disappear." 

    Source: Donald Trump, "Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with African American Leaders," whitehouse.gov, Feb. 28, 2020
February 28:
  • Rally in South Carolina:

    "The Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus. You know that, right?...

    They tried the impeachment hoax. That was on a perfect conversation and this is their new hoax." 

    Source: Lauren Egan, "Trump Calls Coronavirus Democrats' 'New Hoax,'" thehill.com, Feb. 28, 2020
Joe Biden's Statements:

The former vice-president remained largely silent during February while the Coronavirus crisis was unfolding. Yet, what he did say was pointedly political and aimed at the president's handling of the situation. 

February 1:
  • First identified tweet about coronavirus by Joe Biden:

    "We are in the midst of a crisis with the coronavirus. We need to lead the way with science — not Donald Trump's record of hysteria, xenophobia, and fear-mongering. He is the worst possible person to lead our country through a global health emergency." 

    Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, Feb. 1, 2020
February 28:
  • CNN Interview:

    "No one takes the president's word for these things. He, at a minimum, exaggerates everything. And the idea that he's going to stand there and say, ‘everything is fine, don't worry,' who's going to believe that? Let the experts speak like we did in our administration." 

    Source: Marina Pitofsky, "Biden Says 'No One' Takes Trump's Word on Coronavirus," thehill.com, Feb. 28, 2020
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