# How will the White House spin Woodward quoting Trump saying Covid is "deadly"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 9, 2020, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219 "2020-09-09T23:02:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/41 "2020-09-10T05:55:21Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > The obvious spin seems to be: Trump didn’t actually fail to appreciate the dangers of the pandemic, he was perfectly aware of them all along, but skillfully steered the public away from a panicked response by projecting confidence. > > Despicable bullshit? Of course. But that just doesn’t matter. Yup. I think that this book might actually _help_ him. Since he now has a counter to the “didn’t take it seriously” claim. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/42 "2020-09-10T09:35:40Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > We didn’t panic during Pearl Harbor. [Huh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Los_Angeles#Background)? In the months following the [Imperial Japanese Navy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Japanese_Navy)’s [attack on Pearl Harbor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor) in [Hawaii](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territory_of_Hawaii) on 7 December 1941, and the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States)’ entry into World War II the next day, public outrage and paranoia intensified across the country and especially on the [West Coast of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_of_the_United_States), where fears of a Japanese attack on or invasion of the mainland were acknowledged as realistic possibilities. In [Juneau, Alaska](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneau,_Alaska), residents were told to cover their windows for a nightly [blackout](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_(wartime)) after rumors spread that Japanese submarines were lurking along the [southeast Alaskan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Alaska) coast.[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Los_Angeles#cite_note-6) Rumors that a Japanese [aircraft carrier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_carrier) was cruising off the coast of the [San Francisco Bay Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay_Area) resulted in the city of [Oakland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland,_California) closing its schools and issuing a blackout; [civil defense sirens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_defense_siren) provided by [Oakland Police Department](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_Police_Department) cars blared through the city, and radio silence was ordered.[[7]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Los_Angeles#cite_note-DWAD-7) The city of [Seattle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle) also imposed a blackout of all buildings and vehicles, and owners who left the lights on in their buildings had their businesses smashed by a mob of 2,000 residents.[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Los_Angeles#cite_note-8) The rumors were taken so seriously that 500 [United States Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army) troops moved into the [Walt Disney Studios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_Studios_(Burbank)) lot in [Burbank, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burbank,_California), to defend the famed [Hollywood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood) facility and nearby factories against enemy [sabotage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabotage) or [air attacks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_bombing).[[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Los_Angeles#cite_note-9) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/43 "2020-09-10T11:07:20Z")
And we interred American citizens of Japanese ancestry. After 9-11, we invaded Iraq, a nation with no ties to the attack. All America ever does is panic, Trump will be fine. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/44 "2020-09-10T11:12:38Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > All America ever does is panic, Trump will be fine. Since for once he had a point? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/45 "2020-09-10T12:20:20Z")
No, we’re just not a very bright or thoughtful nation. Trump is the symptom, not the disease and any nation that would elect him president is profoundly broken. He has constantly done outrageous things that are obviously not in the nation’s best interests and he still has a 43% approval rating. His base are morons and there are millions of them. His opposition is slow to understand the depth of the crisis and are even now wondering if this will be the other shoe to drop. It won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/46 "2020-09-10T13:02:34Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Since for once he had a point? I mean, no. When a disease is on the way that has the potential to kill hundreds of thousands of Americans, unless you take proper preventative measures, you can prevent panic only by instituting those proper preventative measures. Telling people it’s no big deal is just a way to delay panic until it’s too late. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/47 "2020-09-10T13:12:07Z")
Right. “I didn’t want people to panic so I didn’t quietly start building up PPE stockpiles, ordering ventilators, and forming a crack taskforce” doesn’t make sense. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/48 "2020-09-10T13:17:04Z")
TRUMP (voice is hoarse from screaming): I…was trying to lead the way. We needed a leader! Someone to lead the way to safety. ROBIN: But you yelled “get out of my way”! TRUMP: Because! Because, as the leader…if I die…then all hope is lost! Who would lead? The clown? Instead of castigating me, you should all be thanking me. What kind of a topsy-turvy world do we live in, where heroes are cast as villains? Brave men as cowards? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/49 "2020-09-10T13:26:05Z")
The reason I didn’t tell Mom my cat’s litter box needed cleaning wasn’t because I didn’t want to clean it; I didn’t tell her because I didn’t want her to panic…and if she saw me cleaning it, she might panic. Not cleaning it was the right decision. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/50 "2020-09-10T13:30:16Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > The reason I didn’t tell Mom my cat’s litter box needed cleaning wasn’t because I didn’t want to clean it; I didn’t tell her because I didn’t want her to panic…and if she saw me cleaning it, she might panic. Not cleaning it was the right decision. - Your reasoning doesn’t pass the smell test. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/51 "2020-09-10T13:32:58Z")
I could be wrong, but the treatment of Trump and his relationship with the military might end up being even more damaging than his admissions about COVID. Mattis’ comments…just, wow. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/52 "2020-09-10T13:36:49Z")
And the grab them by the pussy statement did hurt him. It’s just that the idiot FBI director gave him a gift at the last minute that swung the pendulum in his favor just enough to give him an edge. It’s crap like that the democrats need to prepare for by being relentless in keeping the troops motivated. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/53 "2020-09-10T13:37:56Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Mattis’ comments…just, wow. How about expanding on that a bit. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/54 "2020-09-10T13:45:24Z")
[https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/515673-mattis-told-coats-trump-is-dangerous-unfit-woodward-book](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/515673-mattis-told-coats-trump-is-dangerous-unfit-woodward-book) > Mattis, who left the White House at the end of 2018 over differences on defense strategy with the president, warned Coats that “there may come a time when we have to take collective action” against Trump, according to excerpts of the Woodward book reported upon by [The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bob-woodward-rage-book-trump/2020/09/09/0368fe3c-efd2-11ea-b4bc-3a2098fc73d4_story.html), Keep in mind that Mattis was fired by Obama, not known as some weak-kneed humanitarian pussy. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/55 "2020-09-10T13:46:25Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > we’re just not a very bright or thoughtful nation. Trump is the symptom, not the disease and any nation that would elect him president is profoundly broken. Please don’t blame all of us. A majority of millions didn’t vote for Trump, just not the right millions. We didn’t band together when the getting was good during Obama and abolish the obsolete Electoral College. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/56 "2020-09-10T14:21:16Z")
Ike I said, Trump is a symptom of a rotted corpse of a nation. We’ve known for decades that the electoral college needed fixing, we’ve known for generations that veneration of the confederacy was really just white nationalism and for years we let the most ignorant and radical among us prevent the teaching of science in our schools and now we’re surprised how ignorant and easily fooled Americans have become? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/57 "2020-09-10T14:34:51Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > > [@madmonk28](#): > > > > All America ever does is panic, Trump will be fine. > > Since for once he had a point? Well, 180,000 US citizens have died since he told us it was “nothing to worry about.” And because he said that, too goddam many dopes have screamed about the freedom-killing advice to wear a mask. ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/58 "2020-09-10T15:33:47Z")
I’m not trying to give cover to Tweeti Amin, but I’m disturbed that Anthony Fauci was still not recommending facial coverings or masks for over a month after these recordings, even though they were aware that the virus had aerosolized. He said that his original statements about masks were meant to allow stockpiling of PPE for healthcare workers, but it seems like he had at least a month to do that before the rest of the US was informed. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/59 "2020-09-10T16:23:54Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Absolutely. They assume we won’t recall that Trump has worked hard to _create_ panic: about “caravans;” about “MS-13;” about ‘socialists and anarchists taking over;’ and just last week, about ‘plane-loads of antifa thugs’ flying around and brandishing weapons. > > Creating panic is Trump’s signature move. This, exactly. In a press conference yesterday, Trump said: > [@](#): > > “So the fact is, I’m a cheerleader for this country. I love our country. And I don’t want people to be frightened,” Trump told reporters at the White House after announcing his potential Supreme Court nominees if he wins reelection. “I don’t want to create panic, as you say. And certainly, I’m not going to drive this country or the world into a frenzy. We want to show confidence. We want to show strength.” (Source: [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-reaction-woodward-interview-coronavirus/2020/09/09/fc21e67e-f2ca-11ea-b796-2dd09962649c_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-high_woodwardreact-722pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans)) “I don’t want to create panic” is, as you note, complete BS, as the core of his re-election campaign is _specifically_ trying to create panic among his base and among his “suburban housewives.” ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/60 "2020-09-10T17:17:15Z")
“Gotcha” type questions don’t work with Trump (or most politicians for that matter) but if they did, I would want to ask why, if the people know that Trump downplayed the pandemic to prevent panic, they can be sure that he is not overplaying the likelihood of a vaccine by October. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219.md?page=4)