# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/61 "2020-09-10T20:44:07Z")
Yeah, Trump said today in a press conference that we were rounding the final turn, and that vaccines plural were coming. You know, continuing to “lead” and “show strength” through the magic of bullshit. Meanwhile, 20% of University of Wisconsin students on campus are covid-19 positive, and have been told to stay in their dorms. That’s the ticket. America, we are SO fucked! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/62 "2020-09-10T20:50:21Z")
Excuse me, but I don’t understand the premise of this thread. Why does Trump saying “Covid is deadly” need to be spun at all? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/63 "2020-09-10T20:53:29Z")
Trump said before that Covid was going away or that it was going to be like the Flu, when he really knew then that that was not the case. ---
**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, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/64 "2020-09-10T20:54:55Z")
And, Trump was publicly saying “it’s going to be like the flu, it’ll fade away soon, we have it under control” at the same time that he was privately telling Woodward that he knew this to not be the case. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/65 "2020-09-10T21:05:07Z")
Because he didn’t tell America. He said it privately while publicly saying it was no big deal. Here’s an analogy – let’s say that white supremacist violence was a big problem in the US and he knew it and de-emphasized that… No, wait, that happened. OK, let’s say that Russian election interference was a problem and he knew it and de…OK, let me try again. Let’s say that ISIS was a big threat to the US. Every week, ISIS was killing a few people here in the US. In private, Obama tells Woodward, “Yeah, I know ISIS is dangerous and deadly.” But, in public, he says, “ISIS is no big deal. In a few days or weeks, they won’t be a threat at all anymore.” Meanwhile, ISIS continued to kill Americans with greater frequency. After months of this, where Obama publicly discouraged people from wearing special ISIS detecting glasses and telling Michigan and other states to let captured ISIS agents go wild, we find out that Obama knew all along how dangerous ISIS was to Americans but underplayed it. The fact that he knew all along how dangerous ISIS was while publicly downplaying the threat would seem like a big deal to me. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/66 "2020-09-10T21:07:43Z")
Got it, thanks. So a public official said two different things in public and in private. Who ever heard of such depravity? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/67 "2020-09-10T21:08:26Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Excuse me, but I don’t understand the premise of this thread. Why does Trump saying “Covid is deadly” need to be spun at all? > [@RitterSport](#): > > Because he didn’t tell America. He said it privately while publicly saying it was no big deal. Exactly. Because the question becomes: “Then why in the fuck were you actively unprepared?” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/68 "2020-09-10T21:09:32Z")
Of this level? A couple hundred thousand dead Americans? (as of 9/2020) You serious? ---
**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, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/69 "2020-09-10T21:24:06Z")
Saying different things in public and private would be: PRIVATE: This is a potentially devastating disease. I’m worried that no matter what we do, the death toll will be enormous. We’ll keep it low-key so as not to create a panic, but I want a task force of top reps from DHS, HHS, and Commerce to start meeting this afternoon to strategize how we’re going to marshal the resources we need to stop the virus - and to plan what we’re going to do if, as I fear, we can’t contain it even with our best efforts. PUBLIC: This is a challenge that will test our ability to work together for common cause and that will draw on every resource we have. But America is a strong country and I know we’ll beat this thing. Our top people are working on a multi-faceted strategy to keep us safe and I have every confidence in their ability. What Trump did was more like: PRIVATE: Shit, this thing’s gonna be a killer. PUBLIC: La-la-la, it’s all fine, nothing to see here, don’t worry or prepare in any way, there’s no threat so we don’t have to do anything. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/70 "2020-09-10T21:24:40Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Got it, thanks. So a public official said two different things in public and in private. Who ever heard of such depravity? Are you aware that tens of thousands of Americans have needlessly died because of Trump’s inept (willfully it seems) response? Because this isn’t an especially arcane criticism of Trump. ---
**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, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/71 "2020-09-10T21:26:31Z")
Thanks for proving my phis base won’t care, they can’t care. ---
**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, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/72 "2020-09-10T23:09:41Z")
Looks like we have an exciting new spin from Trump. In my OP, I lacked the imagination to see how the third technique I listed (project - turn the accusation back on the accuser) could be employed in this case, but darned if Trump hasn’t done it: [“If Bob Woodward thought what I said was bad then he should have immediately, right after I said it, gone out to the authorities so they can prepare,” Trump said.](https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/politics/trump-bob-woodward-rage/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/73 "2020-09-10T23:29:55Z")
I have seen this echoed among his supporters. “WHy dIdN’t WoOdWaRd go tO tHe meDiA? HoW uNeTHiCaL!” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/74 "2020-09-10T23:43:27Z")
A reporter today responded to that moronic, responsibility avoiding “thought” from Trump by saying: “Bob Woodward is not the President”, but he kind of got drowned out by Trump’s very loud gargling of his own saliva. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/75 "2020-09-10T23:50:14Z")
President Trump has taken every conceivable position on every possible issue. He has affirmed and disavowed every position he’s ever held. He was both deadly serious and totally kidding. The strategy ? No matter the outcome, he can point to ‘evidence’ that he called it right from the beginning. At least, when told that “our nation is under attack,” George W. Bush only spent seven minutes reading ‘My Pet Goat.’ [Hastily scribbling a heartfelt apology note to ol’ Shrub…] ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/76 "2020-09-10T23:51:41Z")
Yeah. He did an Enron, but – rather than screwing with peoples’ life _savings_ – he went directly after their lives. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/77 "2020-09-11T00:18:39Z")
But her emails! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/78 "2020-09-11T00:35:23Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Looks like we have an exciting new spin from Trump. In my OP, I lacked the imagination to see how the third technique I listed (project - turn the accusation back on the accuser) could be employed in this case, but darned if Trump hasn’t done it: > > [“If Bob Woodward thought what I said was bad then he should have immediately, right after I said it, gone out **to the authorities** so they can prepare,” Trump said.](https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/politics/trump-bob-woodward-rage/index.html) “To the authorities.” Trump, after all this time, still can’t get his head around the fact that HE is in charge of the government. He still pictures “authorities” who have the responsibility for what happens in the USA—because he sure as hell knows _he_ has no such responsibility. (my bolding in the quote) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/79 "2020-09-11T00:51:18Z")
> [@Skunkdog](#): > > 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. This carries the unwarranted implication that there was PLENTY of PPE lying around, and Fauci’s responsibility was to gather it up for those healthcare workers. This, of course, is nonsense. From March: > [@](#): > > … The problem is about both supply and demand. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, China made half the world’s face masks. When the outbreak took off there, China started to use its supply and hoard what remained. This problem has only spread since, as more and more countries hoard whatever medical supplies they can get — with some, like Germany, even banning most PPE exports. So as demand increased due to Covid-19 — not just from health care workers but from a general public increasingly scared of infection — there was less supply to go around. > > … The Trump administration could have started to do more in January when it became clear that Covid-19 could pose a threat to the entire world. But, Konyndyk said, the administration just didn’t do that: “What that prompted on our side was travel bans but no serious action to reinforce domestic readiness.” > > … But experts say the federal government isn’t doing enough, with multiple people describing the current response as “a systemic failure.” Local and state officials complain that they now have to outbid each other, as well as other countries and the federal government, to secure dwindling supplies, even if they need PPE more than other bidders. > **[Why America ran out of protective masks — and what can be done about it](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/3/27/21194402/coronavirus-masks-n95-respirators-personal-protective-equipment-ppe)** > > If the US was better prepared for pandemics, it could have avoided the shortage of masks and other protective gear. That was more than five months ago. There’s been little improvement in the Trump Administration response. (my bolding in the first quote) ---
**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 11, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219/80 "2020-09-11T01:46:51Z")
And we started from the same point as New Zealand and Switzerland. Yet we finished last. The blame is in Leadership or if you may, lack of Leadership. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-white-house-spin-woodward-quoting-trump-saying-covid-is-deadly/920219.md?page=5)