Trump "Defeats" COVID -- Autocrat-In-Chief

 

From whom would you expect this behavior?

* Staging a bizarre comeback after an illness.

* Downplaying the deadly effects of a pandemic.

* Framing himself as a warrior who single-handedly defeated the disease.

* Offering deeply misleading and potentially damaging advice to the people.

Did you guess Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of totalitarian North Korea? Or was your estimate Vladimir Putin, the autocratic Russian dictator? Maybe even Nazi Führer Adolf Hitler? The answer is President J. Donald.

After contracting COVID-19, Trump staged a self-triumphant comeback that included an infectious joy ride to greet his fans, an irresponsible mask removal photo op upon his return to the White House, and a false equivocation of the deadly pandemic to the seasonal flu.

Trump is evidently entrenched deeper in denial over the virus than ever before and more committed to trashing scientific protocols that could slow the pandemic. And now, he features himself – not doctors, not scientists, not the medical community and those who follow protective directives – as the self-named super hero who has defeated the deadly disease.

In a strange campaign video whipped up by aides within an hour of his return to the White House – more fitting of an autocrat than a U.S. president –Trump declared …

"We're going back. We're going back to work. We're gonna be out front. As your leader I had to do that. I knew there's danger to it but I had to do it. I stood out front. I led. Nobody that's a leader would not do what I did. I know there's a risk there's a danger. That's OK. And now I'm better, and maybe I'm immune? I don't know. But don't let it dominate your lives. Get out there, be careful."

This message was disturbing not only because it was irresponsible but because it came from a current coronavirus patient who has experienced serious symptoms of the disease and whose recovery has included experimental treatments unavailable to most Americans.

Based on current calculations of a positive test on Thursday evening, on Monday (October 5) Trump was only at four or five days with the illness. But without knowing when the President's last negative test took place – information the White House and Trump's physician Dr. Sean Conley have refused to provide – it's not clear how far along the president is in the disease.

Yes, this secrecy and misinformation is more synonymous with an autocratic regime than with an American political party. Trump's misguided show of strength feeds his ginormous ego and his dangerous reelection strategy. The contagious man with hie “Don’t fear Covid” attitude continues to expose Secret Service agents, White House Staff, and the public.

Craig Spencer, director of global health in emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and an Ebola survivor, said this …

“You’ve unnecessarily exposed numerous people over the last few days, your administration is refusing to do contact tracing, and there’s an outbreak in the White House because of your dangerous disregard of public health … Right now – as cases rise all across the country yet again – teachers and healthcare providers are putting themselves at risk because you treated this as a political threat, not a public health crisis … Your lack of empathy is the single greatest threat to the American people. You have failed us.”

(Joanna Walters and Martin Belam. “Donald Trump rebuked for removing mask after leaving hospital – US politics live.” The Guardian. October 6, 2020.)

Nathan Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of Current Affairs magazine, writes …

"Trump says ‘don’t be afraid of Covid’ – that’s easy for him to say. Coronavirus hits poor people and people of color very hard, and the pandemic-caused recession led to millions losing their health insurance. Many of the people who have caught coronavirus have indeed been heroes, risking their lives in the service of others. But they have not been invincible, for the simple reason that Covid-19 is a deadly virus that cannot be stopped through willpower and tweets.

“Donald Trump’s 'don’t fear Covid' attitude has caused a giant outbreak among high-ranking Republicans. It’s not easy to feel much sympathy for such people, because they ignored and scoffed at public health experts. The White House housekeepers who have contracted Covid-19, however, did not ask for this. Donald Trump simply does not care about their health and well-being, just as he doesn’t care for that of his Secret Service agents. Not only did he not fear Covid-19, but he didn’t fear passing it on everyone in his vicinity. That’s not bravery, it’s sociopathy.”

(Nathan Robinson. “Trump says 'don't be afraid of Covid'. That's easy for him to say.” The Guardian. October 6, 2020.)

“Sociopathy” – is this evaluation of Trump's COVID-19 behaviors too strong? “Sociopath” is a term used to describe someone who has antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Such a person displays behaviors and attitudes including manipulation, deceit, aggression, and a lack of empathy for others. People with ASPD can't understand others' feelings. They'll often break rules or make impulsive decisions without feeling guilty for the harm they cause. That is the “shoe” for the disorder. It is clear who “wears it” with prideful, autocratic authority.