Trump’s recklessness in dealing with the global pandemic is taking a tremendous toll on our country. Under his administration, “the land of opportunity” is crumbling away into a pile of crisis and debt. His negligence in adhering to basic safety protocols is astounding. After claiming that the virus is a hoax, he sat in a hospital bed constantly surrounded by five-star medical staff and top-tier support. The same can not be said for the millions of Americans who do not have access to basic medical care. Trump needs to be held accountable for his actions, or he will be setting a disturbing precedent for the future leaders that will take his place.
Now, with the President in a “very concerning” state as announced by the White House Chief of Staff, the rest of the country is left in a shell-shocked condition.
During the days that ensued the positive diagnosis on Thursday night, Trump’s symptoms reportedly escalated from a mild cough to a fever, which resulted in an airlift to Walter Reed hospital. The extent of his physical state is still mostly unclear, as advisors declined to say whether or not it was sufficiently serious to put the President on oxygen. Confusion and mayhem sprouted throughout the country as people were struggling to understand the root of the president’s condition.
However, even though he does an insufficient job at being a decent leader for our country, wishing for someone to be incapacitated should not be warranted. As troubling as he is, no one deserves to be condemned to death, especially due to a virus that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
Trump’s positive diagnosis on Oct. 1 proceeded with the positive test results of many others. Just a week before he contracted the virus, the President’s former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and campaign manager Bill Stepien both tested positive. During the nomination of new Supreme Court Justice Amy Barrett on Sept. 26, attendees, most of whom were not wearing masks, sat less than one foot apart. The lack of reinforcement of proper guidelines resulted in at least 11 of the attendees being sick with the virus. This is completely unacceptable, especially since it is hypocritical that the government keeps pushing for the reopening of our nation. If no safety measures are being taken to alleviate the situation, how do you expect life to go back to the way it was before?
Furthermore, Trump has mocked mask-wearers in addition to undermining the coronavirus’ severity. In fact, in the first-ever presidential debate of the year, Trump ridiculed his political opponent’s habit of frequent mask-wear, stating “I don’t wear masks like [Biden]. Every time you see him, he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away from it, and he shows up with the biggest mask I’ve seen.” This statement made Trump’s ignorance more pronounced, as Biden was only following the necessary steps needed to deescalate the nationwide pandemic.
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publicly promotes the use of masks, specifically noting its benefits in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“We are not defenseless against COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield told the New York Times. “Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting.” Trump’s inability to properly follow the guidelines showcased his unsympathetic behavior to the hundreds of thousands of loved ones that have passed away due to the coronavirus.
According to the New York Times, one of the many physicians in charge of maintaining the president’s declining health, Dr. Brian Garibaldi, stated that Trump underwent an “experimental antibody treatment 48 hours prior.” This would have meant that he was treated before his diagnosis was released.
Conley later issued a statement claiming that he misstated his words and that he intended to say that it was “Day three” of Trump’s diagnosis.
Still, if Conley’s earlier comment about Trump’s diagnosis turns out to be truthful, then Trump would have attended his rallies the day of and the day after knowing his unfit condition. Controversies aside, this would mean that the President knowingly exposed thousands of his supporters to the virus.
However, with all the contradictory statements being released to the public regarding the President’s health, there is no sure answer as to what is truly happening. Misleading information pertaining to Trump’s COVID-19 journey is being spread like a disorganized wildfire, with different sources making different claims. Now, most of Trump’s advisors seem to note the incredible improvement of his condition, with Conley now stating that, ”The president is doing very well. At this time, the team and I are extremely happy with the progress the president has made.”
Dr. Sean Dooley, a part of the team dedicated to treating the president, signified that Trump was “in exceptionally high spirits.” Dooley even mentioned that Mr. President told his doctors that “I feel like I could walk out of here today.”
It should also be noted that Trump is in the high-risk category for the virus, as he is “an older man who is slightly obese.”
All in all, it is safe to say that all of this could have been avoided with the simple help of social distancing and a mask. The coronavirus is truly a battle that should never be fought individually nor recklessly, as it is a war of the people and not a one-on-one duel. Practicing safe, precautionary measures in response to this pandemic is what will get us through this together, and we will fight for the very freedom of our land that has been decimated by the plagues of a monstrous virus and an incapable leader.
