Patterico's Pontifications

10/5/2020

Trump’s COVID Message, Despite 210,000 Dead Americans: Eh, Relax, People (UPDATE ADDED)

Filed under: General — Dana @ 2:46 pm



[guest post by Dana]

While I understand that Trump wants to project optimism and strength at this time, we remain, nonetheless, in a pandemic with no end in sight. And given that we aren’t children, it seems to me that if you are the President of the United States and currently have COVID and 210,000 Americans have died from the virus inside of a year on your watch, Americans want need to hear a realistic message reflecting the seriousness of the virus. This especially as the President is still well within the 14-day case rate.

Perhaps, though, the President hasn’t seen the poll numbers indicating that a majority of Americans believe he has mismanaged the pandemic and don’t believe what the White House is saying about his health:

With Trump hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 69% of Americans said they trusted little of what they heard from the White House about the President’s health, with only 12% saying they trusted almost all of it.

Disapproval of the President’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak stands at a new high in the survey, with 60% saying they disapprove. Additionally, 63% say his own infection is unlikely to change anything about the way that he handles the pandemic.

And that’s the thing: his own infection has not changed his views of the disease and its impact on Americans. I suppose it was foolish to think that it would. He remains as cavalier as ever, all the while seeming to not understand that, while he has top-notch medical care 24/7 available to him to address any concerns with immediacy, most Americans aren’t afforded that same luxury.

But as far as re-election goes and political strategies, it’s foolish for Trump to not even pretend that this experience has changed his views and caused him to take it more seriously. Given his high disapproval numbers, you would think that he would want to use this opportunity to try and increase his support by telling Americans that he will lead by example and practice social distancing measures, including hand-washing and masking-up when in close contact with people other than his immediate family, as well as make sure that all employees at the White House follow his lead, without exception. Instead, his almost-blasé attitude will only resonate with his like-minded base. The rest of America is more grounded in reality.

The view that Trump acted irresponsibly regarding the risk of coronavirus to others around him cuts across most demographic lines, and is particularly strong among several groups whose support could be critical to Trump’s re-election bid. Among women, 72% say Trump acted irresponsibly. That stands at 66% among those 65 and older as well as among independents, and 65% among Whites with college degrees. The President’s supporters (79%) and Republicans (76%) are about the only groups among which a majority say Trump acted responsibly…

There is agreement across party lines, though, that Trump’s diagnosis will not change the way he handles the pandemic. Most Democrats (70%), independents (59%) and Republicans (62%) agree on that.

The uptick in disapproval of Trump’s handling of coronavirus comes more among women (from 63% disapprove to 69%) than men (48% last month, 51% now), and among more people of color (from 65% to 73%) than Whites (52% then, 53% now), and has increased among seniors (from 57% to 62%) and those under age 35 (from 59% to 67%), while holding roughly steady among those between 35 and 64.

It doesn’t get much clearer than this:

ADDED: Here is Trump at the White House and taking off his mask for photos:

UPDATE:

–Dana

Kayleigh McEnany, White House Spokesliar, Positive for COVID

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 8:30 am



She’ll be fine. Still:

She did not wear a mask while speaking with reporters yesterday:

Meanwhile:

I should mention that the NRSC collected data off of texts sent to people reminding them that they had not signed Trump’s and Melania’s get well card. You’re asked to enter your cell phone (optional) and email address, as well as your name and ZIP code. You consent to future contacts which will include several pleas for money. I did a Twitter thread about it after being alerted by a longtime and valued reader.

Go here and start scrolling.


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