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Source: Screenshot/American Independent
Once again, the Trump administration has proven itself to be woefully unprepared to handle the jobs they have been given to do.
On Tuesday, the acting Homeland Secretary Chad Wolf couldn’t answer even the simplest of questions regarding the government’s readiness to address the threat coronavirus poses to the American people.
This is only the latest in the many ways the Trump administration has bungled its efforts to protect public health.
Source / Pixabay
The acting Homeland Security Secretary doesn’t seem to have a very good handle on the situation. He failed to answer most, if not all, of the of the questions put to him on Tuesday.
Senator Kennedy (R-LA) exclaims, “You’re supposed to keep us safe” when Wolf couldn’t answer his questions.
Yikes!
Trump's Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf can't answer simple questions about the United States government's readiness and preparedness to address coronavirus:pic.twitter.com/id5truDIm2
— Front Page Live (@frontpage_live) February 25, 2020
Source: Flickr/Roy_17
On Monday, Trump is tweeting that coronavirus is “very much under control in the USA.”
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2020
But on Tuesday, the CDC is issuing warnings that Americans should be preparing for the worst.
Unsplash: Sharon McCutcheon
Trump isn’t the only one spreading misinformation.
On Tuesday, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow went on CNBC claiming that the virus was locked up “air tight” and there wouldn’t be an “economic tragedy.”
Keep in mind, this interview took place on the exact same day that Jefferies investment bank warned its clients that coronavirus would “significantly rattle markets.”
CREDIT: NOAA
Earlier in February, Trump was tweeting about how the warmer spring weather will be the death of the virus—assuring everyone that all is well.
Unfortunately, the experts don’t agree with his optimism stating that not enough is known about coronavirus to make those types of speculations.
“We don’t really understand the basis of seasonality, and of course we know we absolutely nothing about this particular virus.”
Source: Screenshot/Washington Examiner
Trump isn’t the only one wearing rose-colored glasses when it comes to his coronavirus outlook.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross recently went on Fox Business to talk about the good side of the outbreak: it would bring jobs back to the U.S.
Ross’s economic outlook hasn’t quite made it over to the markets, however. The Dow was down 1000 points on Monday.
Source / Pixabay
Trump has crippled the CDC since taking office by repeatedly cutting funding to important programs.
While he may be busy begging Congress for money now that there are 34 infected people stateside, it wasn’t that long ago (just two weeks ago) that he was talking about slashing their budget another 16%.
All those cuts take their toll and lead to things like the release of faulty coronavirus tests.
Screenshot / YouTube
In 2018, Trump got rid of the global health security unit within the NSC and the DHS epidemic team. Then he never replaced them.
Pushing out those important people was another one of his temper tantrums—an attempt to remove all trace of former President Obama’s legacy.
The Trump administration is absolutely bungling the response to coronavirus, putting our public health and our economy at risk. This is why we need a real plan and an adult in charge. Here's what I think we should be doing.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 25, 2020
Source / Pixabay
Trump likes to pretend that he knows more about everything than everyone which is likely why he refuses to heed the advice of experts.
Whether it is an Ebola response coordinator telling him his administration needs to be prepared to handle a pandemic or the CDC telling him not to put infected cruise ship passengers on a plane with healthy folks, Trump lets it go in one ear and out the other.