# Trump VS the covid 19 Coronavirus **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 17, 2020, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622 "2020-03-17T02:06:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/41 "2020-03-18T15:35:30Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Trump administration [dismissing the anti Pandemic group as “not being needed” in 2018](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/flashback-trump-fires-his-pandemic-team_n_5e7104cbe4b0987b13b0f5e5) Also [a program aimed at identifying potentially lethal pathogens in animals before they could spread to humans](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/25/health/predict-usaid-viruses.html) and [a 75% reduction to an initiative aimed at stopping potential epidemics before they cross borders](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/13/us/politics/trump-ebola-disease-cuts-global-health-security-agenda.html). Both of which were enacted under Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/42 "2020-03-18T15:38:12Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [Before Trump’s inauguration, a warning: ‘The worst influenza pandemic since 1918’ > In a tabletop exercise days before an untested new president took power, officials briefed the incoming administration on a scenario remarkably like the one he faces now.](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/16/trump-inauguration-warning-scenario-pandemic-132797) And the barely literate, attention span-deficit new president was more interested in where his next hamberder was coming from, and ignored the entire briefing. Trump fucked the response up. Full.Stop. His incompetent administration did not help, because any competent person has already left. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/43 "2020-03-18T17:18:21Z")
A, get this, anti-Trump Republican group called The Lincoln Project is running this ad about Trumps response to the virus. [UNFIT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gJgmkWJ6es). ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/44 "2020-03-18T17:29:12Z")
From the Guardian’s live blog today @ 15:17 > [@](#): > > Trump signs bill to take control of private sector > > Donald Trump, the United States president, has announced that he will invoke a federal provision that allows the government to marshal the private sector in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Associated Press reports. > > Trump, now describing himself as a wartime president, said he would sign the Defense Production Act “in case we need it” as the government bolsters resources for an expected surge in cases of the virus. > > The Defense Production Act gives the president powers to direct domestic industrial production to provide essential materials and goods needed in a national security crisis. > > It allows the president to require businesses and corporations to prioritise and accept contracts for required materials and services. It also allows the president to provide incentives for the domestic industrial base to expand the production and supply of critical materials and goods, according to a March 2 report by the Congressional Research Service. Which sounds okay… … until you realize that Trump and his merry band of idiot/assholes are going to be in charge of it. Goddam, I’m glad I’m in Canada and, Oh shit! I still have family in the USA. Oh… and the border is closing. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/45 "2020-03-18T21:18:13Z")
One of the problems with developing a vaccine (which despite what Foxnews is apparently telling my mom will NOT be available imminently) is that there is no current animal model to even test a vaccine. One of the quickest ways to develop a model would be in mice with a humanized immune system with transplanted human lung tissue. The transplanted tissue, unlike murine tissue, would be susceptible to corona virus and could serve to test efficacy. But, it’s[fetal lung tissue](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/trump-ban-on-fetal-tissue-research-blocks-coronavirus-treatment-effort/2020/03/18/ddd9f754-685c-11ea-abef-020f086a3fab_story.html?fbclid=IwAR1m3d4JQj60uabnCTxbQnKePwSn1q4CLgflKpCX1B6pC0hox2uJE078M2k&utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook). Currently banned for government research by the Trump administration. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/46 "2020-03-18T22:02:48Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I agree. As I recently said in another thread, Trump has been held in check by his own incompetence. > > But we’re going to have somebody who is equally amoral but competent. That person will see how a bumbling idiot like Trump was able to get away with so much and realize they could become a real dictator. This is something to fear. The OrangeAnus (R - Impeached) has demonstrated the way a competent and evil person could become a REAL dictator. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/47 "2020-03-18T22:20:09Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I’m afraid that now that he’s pretending to be president people are going to forget his earlier offenses. This was maybe the only opportunity for him to be presidential. He could have risen to the occasion and maybe salvaged some of his legacy. But he is incapable of it. Absolutely incapable. He’s calling Covid19 the Chinese Virus and other GOP leaders are following his example. The people around him know that the Chinese can really fuck us by withholding much needed drugs. But they can’t stop him. instead of trying to work with the Chinese, he _has_ to blame someone for his problems and he can’t not be an asshole. Just can’t, no matter what. He totally blew it, the U.S. is going to suffer for it and no one but his fans will forget. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/48 "2020-03-20T20:21:11Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Holy shit. This used to be a relatively thoughtful and sane board. Yes, Left leaning but still kinda sane. […] > So yes, Trump is evil. Blame him for everything. The democrats are doing the same. Mass hysteria. > > Carry on and wipe well. 🙄 Good that this is the pit, so I can wish you four more years of Trump so that you finally see the truth without fear of being expelled from this board for crimes against sanity. I don’t live in the USA, of course, I am not a masochist, so this wish has only aesthetical costs for me. Concerning the question by the OP: Trump or Virus? Why not [both](https://schumanchu.eu/html/l/l_00080curcumavirus.html)? And who knows? If this turns out to be cathartic enough some good might come out of it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/49 "2020-03-20T21:00:52Z")
Like so many societies before it, the US, hoist with it’s own fucktard. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2020, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/50 "2020-03-20T22:55:38Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Hoover was a talented geologist, financier, and businessman. We tend to associate Roosevelt with his wealthy background. So I was surprised when I found out that Hoover was significantly wealthier than Roosevelt. ---
**Author:** ![Biggus\_Richard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@Biggus\_Richard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggus_Richard)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/51 "2020-03-21T13:37:51Z")
Call it “The Chinese Virus” and who’ll raise a hoot? The Americans of course. Haven’t heard any reactions from Beijing (or Peking in my youth.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/52 "2020-03-21T13:55:07Z")
> [@Biggus\_Richard](#): > > Call it “The Chinese Virus” and who’ll raise a hoot? The Americans of course. Haven’t heard any reactions from Beijing (or Peking in my youth.) You haven’t been following the news, then. [For example](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51928011): > [@](#): > > Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said the tweet amounted to “stigmatisation of China”. > > "We urge the US to correct its mistake and stop its groundless accusations against China,” he added. > > China’s official news agency, Xinhua, said Mr Trump’s language was “racist and xenophobic” and revealed “politicians’ irresponsibility and incompetence”, risking increasing fears over the virus. Plus there was [this big diplomatic row](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/19/coronavirus-bolsonaro-son-china-row) a couple days ago with the Brazilians for the same thing. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/53 "2020-03-21T18:37:19Z")
**Trump’s clubs and hotels, including Mar-a-Lago, suffer from coronavirus fallout** > **[Trump’s clubs and hotels, including Mar-a-Lago, suffer from coronavirus fallout](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mar-a-lago-shuttered-as-trumps-clubs-and-restaurants-suffer-from-coronavirus-fallout/2020/03/20/dae785c0-6ad2-11ea-b313-df458622c2cc_story.html)** > > The company has laid off staff and closed properties, like others in the hospitality industry. > [@](#): > > President Trump’s company — significantly reliant on tourism, conventions and restaurant income — has been sharply impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, with at least four properties closing and three hotels laying off staff, according to people familiar with the company. > > In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) ordered all restaurants and bars in the state to close Friday and imposed special restrictions in a few places including Palm Beach County — home of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club. > > In a message to members about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Mar-a-Lago said that in response to DeSantis’s order, it was closing the last parts of the club still in operation: the tennis club and the beach club. “We hope that this suspension is short-lived,” the club said. Mar-a-Lago is a wintertime club, which typically closes for the season around Mother’s Day. > > Previously, Mar-a-Lago had been partially open, offering limited sit-down service at its beachfront bistro, according to a letter sent to members. > > Before that, Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas was shuttered in response to a statewide order from Nevada’s governor. It will not reopen until April 17, the hotel told customers. Some employees at the hotel have already been laid off, according to a letter one employee received. > > In New York, Trump’s hotel on Central Park remained open Friday, but the hotel warned its investors that “we cannot predict the duration of this unprecedented event; however, the hotel expects a significant shortfall in revenues,” according to a letter obtained by The Washington Post. > > By late Thursday, 51 of the New York hotel’s 300-plus employees had been laid off, according to a person familiar with the Trump hotel’s operations. > … Boo fucking hoo. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/54 "2020-03-21T18:45:17Z")
He could rehabilitate his sorry reputation by paying the wages of the employees affected by the shutdowns. Instead, he gets praise for donating his presidential salary to charity. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/55 "2020-03-21T19:34:16Z")
I think because of how badly he has handled this, the two will always be linked. As soon as you mention Trump, this pandemic will be the first thing most people think of. Same with the other way around. I wish somebody would shut him up completely. The last thing we need is a fucking war with China. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/56 "2020-03-22T14:57:01Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > **Trump’s clubs and hotels, including Mar-a-Lago, suffer from coronavirus fallout** > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mar-a-lago-shuttered-as-trumps-clubs-and-restaurants-suffer-from-coronavirus-fallout/2020/03/20/dae785c0-6ad2-11ea-b313-df458622c2cc\_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mar-a-lago-shuttered-as-trumps-clubs-and-restaurants-suffer-from-coronavirus-fallout/2020/03/20/dae785c0-6ad2-11ea-b313-df458622c2cc_story.html) > > Boo fucking hoo. First thing he does: lay off his staff. The Gov’ment will pay, I am sure. [Him](https://twitter.com/matthewstoller/status/1241446035190358018) (number 5: the Hotels want 150 Billion). I wonder if it is possible to go short on Trump’s Reich and, if so, if those insiders who [sold their stock](https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/818192535/burr-recording-sparks-questions-about-private-comments-on-covid-19?t=1584696916073) have shorted it. Unfortunately, it is not a quoted company, is it? Damned, I would so love to earn money against tanTrump! Well, whatever. This one flu over the [cock-up](https://schumanchu.eu/html/l/l_00082cuckoos~nest.html) nest. Hope you enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/57 "2020-03-22T15:06:46Z")
> [@Mona\_Lott](#): > > He could rehabilitate his sorry reputation by paying the wages of the employees affected by the shutdowns. > Instead, he gets praise for donating his presidential salary to charity. No he couldn’t. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/58 "2020-03-22T15:10:03Z")
> [@Mona\_Lott](#): > > He could rehabilitate his sorry reputation by paying the wages of the employees affected by the shutdowns. > Instead, he gets praise for donating his presidential salary to charity. > [@The\_Tooth](#): > > No he couldn’t. Agreed. His sorry reputation and his sorry self are beyond redemption. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/60 "2020-03-22T20:58:26Z")
> [@tim4rmthe](#): > > cure for coronavirus [https://lukepharmacy.com/product/remdesivir-1mg/](https://lukepharmacy.com/product/remdesivir-1mg/) Post #1? Oh, puh-le-e-ese. Reported. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622/61 "2020-03-22T21:38:55Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > You saw Covid 19 3 years ago? Ok. My industry is thriving under Trump. And I filled the tank today at under 2 bucks a gallon. YMMV Speaking of tank, how’s your 401(k) doing? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-covid-19-coronavirus/849622.md?page=4)