# Trump’s Decision Making in the COVID Era **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 3, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005 "2020-04-03T21:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/1 "2020-04-03T21:51:50Z")
Every day I hear NY Governor Cuomo talk about a lack of ventilators and PPE in New York. It seems like the problem is the combination of: 1) the Federal Government’s spending power crowding out the states, leaving the states to compete with each other for the scraps; 2) the Federal Government hoarding supplies, and distributing some of them based on some unknown criteria (which was echoed by the CT governor); 3) the reliance on imported goods and the worldwide demand; 4) Trump’s belief that the states are largely responsible for the health of their citizens and they should have been prepared (which I guess is consistent with his right wing base and their “starve the beast” mentality). And certainly many others. Considering the horror stories that we’re seeing in NYC, it would seem that there certainly are shortages. So if the Federal Government is truly stockpiling ventilators and PPE, what is the reason? I almost feel like the news networks and state governments are afraid to ask this question directly, perhaps for fear of retribution and even reduced support. I notice that all of the Northeast state governors seem to throw in a Trump compliment at least once per speech. One reason that comes to mind is that Trump is saving the equipment for when COVID hits the swing states hard. There is an election scheduled in 7 months, and by keeping enough of the right people in the right states happy, he could get the votes he needs. If true, this would certainly end up being transparent. But I’m not sure he cares. I apologize if someone’s already thought of this. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/2 "2020-04-03T21:59:58Z")
Moved to Politics and Elections. Political threads should go in their normal forums, not in Quarantine Zone. Colibri Quarantine Zone Moderator ---
**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:** [April 3, 2020, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/3 "2020-04-03T22:09:19Z")
That part about the American so-called president not giving a shit about the deaths of American citizens is true. He’s not so much a leader in the “I’ll go first” sense, as he is a leader in the “Fuck You” sense. ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/4 "2020-04-03T22:57:47Z")
Trump has not only politicized covid-19, he has weaponized it. His press conferences are filled with him congratulating himself. If a governor isn’t appreciative enough, he just ignores their calls and tells Pence to do the same. He doesn’t care if lots of people die as long as he gets re-elected, or more precisely, manages to stay in power. Without question, he is the worst president ever. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/5 "2020-04-03T23:24:16Z")
This list from the Dailykos matches what I have seen coming from Trump’s bad decisions about the Covid19: > **[A catalog of capital incompetence: The short list of things Donald Trump did...](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/4/3/1934015/-A-catalog-of-capital-incompetence-The-short-list-of-things-Donald-Trump-did-to-kill-America#read-more)** > > Every day seems to bring another round of the great national question: “How is it possible that Donald Trump missed so many chances to stop this?” In fact, Trump so consistently veered in the pro-death direction that it’s hard to believe he’s not... > [@](#): > > Trump canceled the PREDICT program > > PREDICT was a global program bringing together American scientists and foreign scientists in an effort to spot new threats in viruses making the leap between animals and people. Among the labs that were part of the PREDICT network was one in Wuhan, China that was looking specifically at SARS-related coronaviruses as a potential source of a pandemic. Both SARS and MERS had demonstrated the potential threat behind these viruses, and it wasn’t difficult to imagine a virus that was a little less deadly, and a little more contagious, turning into a massive global threat. > > That program had identified over 150 such viruses, and that lab in Wuhan was the first to identify the virus behind COVID-19. But two months before that moment, Trump chopped the funding and dropped U.S. involvement, despite being repeatedly warned about the value of the program—an action that blinded the nation, just at the critical moment. > > … > > Trump scrapped the annual DHS review of pandemic preparedness > > Every year from 2005 to 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted a review that included modeling the effect that a pandemic would have on critical infrastructure across the nation. After that many years of effort, the DHS simulation was robust, and modeled not just the spread of disease but the effects on transportation, the economy, and how America could shift its workforce into work-from-home situations. In fact, it anticipated an amazing number of the issues that have appeared during the current crisis … so it might have been a very good thing if Trump hadn’t killed the process as soon as he came into the White House, putting all the results three years out of date. More in the link, and when I have more time, [a post needs to be directed to yet another move from Trump that on the surface looks ok, but looking just a bit under the hood, it is a bad one; just what Trump typically does.](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/04/3m-warns-trump-order-blocking-mask-exports-could-lead-to-retaliation/) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/6 "2020-04-03T23:47:34Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > One reason that comes to mind is that Trump is saving the equipment for when COVID hits the swing states hard. There is an election scheduled in 7 months, and by keeping enough of the right people in the right states happy, he could get the votes he needs. If true, this would certainly end up being transparent. But I’m not sure he cares. I apologize if someone’s already thought of this. That was my assumption. At first I thought he was saving them for red states, but I think saving them for swing states in the midwest makes more sense. Trump, being a sociopath, isn’t going to ‘waste’ limited medical equipment on states that intend to vote against him in november. He will save it for states like MI, WI, MN, PA, OH, FL, etc. Has America ever had a president who abuses the power of the federal government to punish his political enemies like this? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/7 "2020-04-04T01:03:53Z")
But if he withholds them now, won’t that mean more people will get sick and die later? Not saying he’s not doing this, but it doesn’t seem to make any sense. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/8 "2020-04-04T01:07:29Z")
Neither does your fucking question. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/9 "2020-04-04T01:29:05Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Neither does your fucking question. what the hell? But I will rephrase. Trump is not giving supplies to blue states now. He is saving them for the swing states to be used later so the people there were will vote for him. But the key to keep people from dying is for states to be prepared before they are hard hit. You don’t wait until people are sick and then start sending in supplies. Unless the OP was only about ventilators to be used when people get sick; if that is the OPs premise, then it would…christ…make sense as an election strategy. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2020, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/10 "2020-04-04T10:56:14Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > what the hell? … Hey, sorry. That was a bit over the top. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/11 "2020-04-04T13:04:01Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > One reason that comes to mind is that Trump is saving the equipment for when COVID hits the swing states hard. When? Michigan passed California yesterday to become the state with the third largest number of reported cases. It has the 6th highest infection rate and and the 4th highest death rate (by population not by numbers infected.) One fifth of the Detroit Police department is in quarantine. Michigan was also an important part of how Trump won. [NYT numbers by state.](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html#states) If your theory was correct, we should at least expect Trump to be leaning into verbal support for the state even if they did not yet require a significant surge of extra federal aid. What we are actually seeing is Trump attacking the governor on Twitter. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/12 "2020-04-04T13:12:49Z")
What you’re describing would be a rational, though sociopathic, way for Trump to behave. He is indeed sociopathic enough to do that. But he’s not rational. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/13 "2020-04-04T13:54:07Z")
The emperor in the White House is surely just planning on canceling the election. COVID may be the best distraction of all time. If he can punish people that despise him, all the better. [ul] [li]Fake news.[/li][li]Election rigged.[/li][li]Executive order.[/li][li]Deservers another term because of hoax impeachment.[/li][li]COVID King. He is the only one that can fix the problem.[/li][li]Obama.[/li][li]Hillary.[/li][li]Something about emails.[/li][li]That mean Ben Gazi guy.[/li][/ul] Probably all of the above. His supporters will buy it hook, line and sinker. Lock, stock and barrel. Yes it’s stupid, and won’t work. But that’s pretty much the definition of a Trump. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/14 "2020-04-04T13:58:01Z")
The emperor in the White House is surely just planning on canceling the election. COVID may be the best distraction of all time. If he can punish people that despise him, all the better. [ul] [li]Fake news.[/li][li]Election rigged.[/li][li]Executive order.[/li][li]Deservers another term because of hoax impeachment.[/li][li]COVID King. He is the only one that can fix the problem.[/li][li]Obama.[/li][li]Hillary.[/li][li]Something about emails.[/li][li]That mean Ben Gazi guy. Never liked him.[/li][/ul] Probably all of the above. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/15 "2020-04-04T14:22:56Z")
Truman: “The buck stops here.” [Trump](https://www.vox.com/2020/3/13/21179119/trump-not-my-fault-coronavirus-press-conference-public-health): “I don’t take responsibility at all.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/16 "2020-04-04T14:25:34Z")
Truman: “The buck stops here.” [Trump](https://www.vox.com/2020/3/13/21179119/trump-not-my-fault-coronavirus-press-conference-public-health): “I don’t take responsibility at all.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/17 "2020-04-04T14:33:18Z")
Glitchy as can be today. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/18 "2020-04-04T14:50:29Z")
Kennedy: “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” 🆒 Trump: “I could shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” :smack: Sums it up really. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/19 "2020-04-04T15:14:04Z")
Truman: “The buck stops here.” As usual, Trump mis-interpreted what that means. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005/20 "2020-04-04T15:31:25Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > But if he withholds them now, won’t that mean more people will get sick and die later? Not saying he’s not doing this, but it doesn’t seem to make any sense. The reality is that Trump is not a very intelligent person. He himself has said that he reacts to problems. He lacks the mental capacity to deal with a problem before it occurs. So he’s only handling the medical crisis as it becomes visible. Which is wrong; this is the kind of crisis that you have to address early - before you see the effects. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-s-decision-making-in-the-covid-era/851005.md?page=2)