As he struggles with the biggest crisis of his presidency, President Trump has issued wildly divergent messages about the coronavirus, adding confusion to the stumbling federal response.
President Trump praised the “pretty good job we’ve done” when he predicted in late February that the number of Americans infected by the coronavirus would dwindle to “close to zero” in a couple of days.
On Saturday, for example, Trump set off waves of confusion in New York, the epicenter of the outbreak for now, by repeatedly saying he was considering ordering an enforced quarantine of parts of New York state, New Jersey and Connecticut, blindsiding the three governors. By nightfall, under intense criticism, he backed down.
Many inside and outside advisors had argued that Trump could relax restrictions in areas where the outbreak has yet to spread. But public health experts argued that the contagion would overwhelm hospitals and that up to 2 million Americans could die, hurting the economy as much as keeping workers home.
“We’ve never closed down the country for the flu,” Trump said Tuesday. “So you say to yourself, what is this all about?” To many allies who had Trump’s ear, even a small gesture could help calm the roller-coaster stock markets and the nerves of business owners forced to shut down for an indefinite period.
The advisors have warned Trump that the political consequences at the ballot box in November will be even worse if he is seen as too lax.“Pay attention. You’re going to lose the election,” the former official said, summarizing the intervention.
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