Understanding the Pandemic Mishandling and the Right to Choose Your Safety
Responsibility to the Public
Welcome to DonaldTrumpCorona.com, where we take a closer, more detailed look at how the COVID-19 pandemic was mishandled under the leadership of President Donald Trump. From downplaying the severity of the virus early on to making critical decisions that led to delayed response efforts, the consequences of his actions have been devastating, affecting millions of people across the world.
On this site, we provide a comprehensive range of insights, documented facts, and essential resources to help you better understand the long-term impact of his choices. We also emphasize the importance of personal responsibility and the right to make informed decisions when it comes to health and safety during a global crisis.
The Pandemic Response: A Timeline of Mistakes
A Failure of Leadership: Trump's Response to COVID-19
In early 2020, as COVID-19 began to spread across the globe, Donald Trump downplayed the severity of the situation, calling it "a hoax" and suggesting it would just "disappear." Despite the growing number of cases and deaths, Trump's administration failed to take swift and necessary action to protect the American people.
From delaying testing and essential safety measures to contradicting public health officials, the lack of leadership from the highest office in the land exacerbated the pandemic’s devastating impact.
February 2020: Trump claimed COVID-19 was no worse than the flu and that it would eventually go away.
Source: NPR - Trump downplays the virusMarch 2020: While the virus spread, Trump continued to downplay the crisis, contradicting experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci and undermining the efforts of local and state governments.
Source: Washington Post - Trump's contradictionsApril 2020: Trump's infamous promotion of unproven treatments, including hydroxychloroquine, led to confusion and chaos.
Source: CNN - Trump’s promotion of hydroxychloroquineOngoing: Despite widespread criticism, there was no cohesive federal response to help states secure the resources they needed to fight the pandemic effectively.
Source: New York Times - Trump’s pandemic failures
Why Wearing Masks Is Your Right
The Right to Protect Yourself: Mask-Wearing as a Personal Choice
While the Trump administration repeatedly failed to implement consistent and science-based health policies, many Americans took it upon themselves to take care of their own health and safety. Wearing a mask became one of the most important tools in reducing the spread of COVID-19, yet the former president did not lead by example and even ridiculed those who wore them.
At DonaldTrumpCorona.com, we want to make it clear: wearing a mask is your right. Whether or not to wear one should be a personal decision made based on your health, your community's needs, and your individual responsibility. It's a simple step that can save lives, reduce the burden on healthcare systems, and protect those who are most vulnerable.
Your Choice: No government or leader should mandate your health decisions. You have the power to make informed choices that protect both you and those around you.
Source: CDC - How Masks Protect YouHealth Protection: Science consistently shows that wearing masks reduces the transmission of COVID-19. It’s a small effort that goes a long way in safeguarding public health.
Source: WHO - Why Masks MatterCommunity Responsibility: Mask-wearing is not just about protecting yourself—it’s about protecting others, especially those who are immunocompromised or elderly.
Source: Harvard Health - Why masks matter
While Trump and his administration failed to effectively encourage protective measures, it’s up to each individual to make informed choices about their own health and safety.
What Went Wrong?
The Cost of Inaction: Lives Lost, Opportunities Missed
Under the Trump administration, the U.S. saw one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the world. Experts agree that much of this could have been avoided with swift and decisive action in the early months of the pandemic. Instead, we witnessed a lack of a coordinated federal response, mixed messages, and a delayed acknowledgment of the severity of the crisis.
The following key failures contributed to the United States’ struggles:
Delayed Testing and Diagnostic Capacity: While other countries ramped up testing, the Trump administration failed to provide adequate resources for widespread testing, making it difficult to understand the true scope of the pandemic.
Source: CNN - How coronavirus testing fumbles squandered valuable timeIgnoring Public Health Advice: Time and time again, Trump contradicted experts, including the CDC and WHO, weakening efforts to mitigate the virus.
Source: Vox - "Trump ignored coronavirus warnings from experts for months"Mixed Messaging and Disinformation: From promoting unproven treatments to questioning the effectiveness of masks, the consistent spread of misinformation only added to the confusion and distrust.
Source: NPR - Misinformation during the pandemic
Resources and Facts
Fighting for the Truth: Empower Yourself with Knowledge
The pandemic has been a trying time for the entire world, but through understanding and knowledge, we can all take steps to protect our communities. Below are links to trusted sources and important facts to help you make informed decisions during this time:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): For up-to-date guidelines on mask-wearing, social distancing, and vaccines.
CDCWorld Health Organization (WHO): Global perspective on COVID-19, treatments, and public health advice.
WHOFact-Checking Organizations: Stay informed with accurate information by following independent fact-checkers.
PolitiFact - Fact checks on Trump
FactCheck.org - Trump’s pandemic claims
Take Action: Hold Leaders Accountable
The mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic by Donald Trump and his administration must not be forgotten. Here’s how you can make a difference:
Advocate for Science-Based Policy: Demand that future leaders prioritize public health and science when making decisions.
Source: OECD - The role of science in policyStand Up for Your Rights: Continue advocating for your right to make informed health decisions, including wearing a mask when you choose to.
Source: Fight for the Future - The Right to Wear a MaskShare the Truth: Help others understand the importance of responsible leadership and the right to protect our health.
Source: Newsweek - Spread the Truth about COVID
Additional Information regarding Trump and the pandemic
To date, in place of a coordinated, national plan to scale-up and implement public health measures to control the spread of coronavirus, the Trump Administration has chosen to rest the main responsibility for the COVID-19 response with the states, with the federal government serving as “back-up” and “supplier of last resort.” While this in part reflects federalism and the decentralized nature of U.S. public health, the lack of a national plan and strong federal guidelines have significantly contributed to a patchwork of policies, supplies, and outbreak trajectories across the country, and worsening community spread.
Early on, the President’s initial response to the new outbreak was focused on sealing U.S. borders and preventing entry of the virus. President Trump moved to suspend entry from China on January 31, followed by others since. However, with community transmission already underway in the U.S., and challenges with screening arriving passengers, travel restrictions were not effective in curtailing spread in the U.S. Meanwhile, the federal government was slow in bolstering public health capacities, such as testing and contact tracing, at the time the virus began to circulate domestically. As cases and deaths escalated, the gulf between what was needed and what was available grew quickly.
By mid-March, facing growing case numbers and seeing what had happened in other countries, several U.S. state and local jurisdictions began implementing stay-at-home orders and other social distancing policies. After conflicting messages from the President, who minimized the threat of the virus, the White House issued federal social distancing guidelines on March 16 for a 15-day period. Soon after, the President began pushing toward reopening, tweeting on March 22, for example, that “We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself. At the end of the 15 day period, we will make a decision as to which way we want to go!” and saying he hoped the country would reopen by Easter, with “packed churches.” The White House extended the social distancing period through the end of April, and issued reopening guidelines for states on April 16. Still, even before the end of April, the President began encouraging Governors to reopen, although key reopening metrics were not yet met in most places. The President has also pushed for schools to re-open in-person even though community transmission has remained high in many places, and is much higher than it was in other countries that moved to re-open in-person schooling.
There have been ongoing challenges with COVID-19 testing in particular. These started with an early, faulty test developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that resulted in a significant delay in scaling-up testing as coronavirus spread quickly in the U.S. They have continued through to the present with ongoing shortages of critical testing supplies; significant delays in turn-around times for results; and shifting and sometimes confusing federal guidelines that have been reported to be subject to political pressure. Yet the President said in March that “Anybody that wants a test can get a test,” and in May, “As far as Americans getting a test, they should all be able to get a test right now.” More recently, while Administration officials have continued to say that anyone who needs a test could get one, they have acknowledged the need to reduce turn-around times and continue to work to increase testing capacity.
Throughout the pandemic, and even as cases and deaths increased, the President has downplayed the threat of COVID-19. For example:
On January 22, in response to a question about whether he was worried given the first report of known U.S. case, he said, “No. Not at all. And– we’re– we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s—going to be just fine.”
On February 2, “We pretty much shut it down coming in from China.”
On February 25, “We have very few people with it.”
On April 28, “But I think what happens is it’s going to go away. This is going to go away.”
On June 17, he said it was “fading away.”
On July 19, “I think we’re gonna be very good with the coronavirus. I think that at some point that’s going to sort of just disappear. I hope.”
On August 5, “It’s going away. Like things go away. No question in my mind that it will go away, hopefully sooner rather than later.”
The President has also given conflicting messages and conveyed misinformation about coronavirus and has sometimes been at odds with public health officials (including those in the government) and scientific evidence. For example:
He has touted the use of the drug, hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, despite the lack of evidence of its effectiveness, warnings of potential harms, and even after federal COVID-19 treatment guidelines recommended against its use.
He suggested that applying ultraviolet light to or inside the body, or injecting disinfectant, could combat coronavirus.
He has attributed rising COVID-19 cases to increased testing, despite the fact that this claim is not backed up by the data.
He has questioned the use of face masks, and given inconsistent messages about their use, even after CDC guidelines recommended them. It was only in July that he began to wear one in public at times and talk about their importance.
In pushing schools to re-open in person, he has said that children are “almost immune” and “don’t have a problem,” despite evidence to the contrary.
He called the FDA’s issuance of an emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma, a potential treatment for COVID-19, “historic” and a “breakthrough,” even though the FDA itself said it “may be effective” and the National Institutes of Health COVID-19 treatment guidelines panel concluded that there were insufficient data to recommend either for or against it and at this time, it “should not be considered standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19.”
President Trump and White House officials often publicly disagreed with the recommendations being made by federal officials and public health scientists. The CDC, which in previous national public health emergencies was very much in the public eye, did not give press conferences. The President has also publicly criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has been the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health since 1984, and generally not appeared in public with him recently, unlike earlier in the pandemic.
Even as the administration’s primary strategy was to rely on states, it has taken a number of actions to address the pandemic. The President established a White House COVID-19 Task Force on January 27, even before the WHO had declared COVID-19 to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) (although leadership of the Task Force has shifted and its public-facing and internal activities have diminished). Three federal emergencies have been declared, enabling the authorization of funds and allowing the mobilization of resources and enhanced flexibilities to respond, as follows: HHS declared a public health emergency (PHE) on January 31 (renewed since then) and the President declared national emergencies under the Stafford Act and the National Emergencies Act, on March 13.
The President has also signed four emergency spending bills passed by Congress, which provide trillions to address COVID-19 and offer new flexibilities and relief for individuals, businesses, states, and localities. He has activated the use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to expand production, prioritize, and allocate supplies in the U.S., if needed, and this authority has been used in select cases. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided emergency use authorization for hundreds of tests and other devices and the CDC has issued more than 170 guidance documents on COVID-19. In addition, the U.S. has launched “Operation Warp Speed”, a significant initiative to expedite research, development, and distribution of coronavirus vaccines. Finally, numerous other federal agencies have acted to help ease the burden of COVID-19, such as granting state Medicaid programs additional flexibilities, accelerating Medicare payments to hospitals and other health care providers, instituting new protections for nursing home residents, and issuing a strategy for “Accelerating Progress Towards Reducing COVID-19 Disparities and Achieving Health Equity.”
These measures are taking place against the backdrop of other non-COVID-19 specific Administration actions that could significantly affect the response, such as a continued push before the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has provided millions of Americans with insurance coverage and expanded access to health care.
On the global front, two of the emergency spending bills included funding for other countries, and the Administration had already begun sending international assistance to countries in need before the bills were passed. Following a more general foreign policy approach of “America First”, the Administration has chosen not to participate in several high-level international efforts to address COVID-19, has ended funding for the WHO, and has announced its intent to withdraw from WHO membership, actions that mark a significant departure from the role the U.S. has historically played, including its major role in combating the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
As part of his second term agenda, the President recently released the following goals for his proposal to “eradicate COVID-19”:
“Develop a Vaccine by The End Of 2020.”
“Return to Normal in 2021.”
“Make All Critical Medicines and Supplies for Healthcare Workers in The United States.”
“Refill Stockpiles and Prepare for Future Pandemics.”
Joe Biden’s Response
Former VP Biden has outlined a number of proposals for how he would address the coronavirus pandemic as President. VP Biden was also part of the Obama Administration’s response to the 2009 H1N1 outbreak, the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and 2016 Zika outbreak. During his tenure, the Obama Administration played a lead role in creating the “Global Health Security Agenda,” a multilateral initiative that aims to serve as “a catalyst for progress toward the vision of attaining a world safe and secure from global health threats posed by infectious diseases.” In addition, as follow-up to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the Obama Administration established the Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense at the National Security Council (NSC) to lead the federal government’s pandemic response (the Directorate was disbanded by the Trump Administration in 2018).
VP Biden has put forth the following principles for his proposed response to COVID-19:
“Restoring trust, credibility, and common purpose”.
“Mounting an effective national emergency response that saves lives, protects frontline workers, and minimizes the spread of COVID-19”.
“Eliminating cost barriers for prevention of and care for COVID-19”.
“Pursuing decisive economic measures to help hard-hit workers, families, and small businesses and to stabilize the American economy”.
“Rallying the world to confront this crisis while laying the foundation for the future”.
VP Biden’s plan states that “The federal government must act swiftly and aggressively” and that “Public health emergencies require disciplined, trustworthy leadership grounded in science.” His approach calls for the federal government, not the states, to assume primary responsibility for many aspects of the COVID-19 response, including for scaling up testing and contact tracing, providing and managing the distribution of critical supplies, and setting strong national standards. For example, VP Biden has said he would call on all Americans to wear masks and work with governors and mayors to mandate mask wearing. He would appoint a “Supply Commander” to oversee national supply chain of essential equipment, medications, protective gear, directing distribution of critical equipment as cases peak at different times in different states or territories, and make more aggressive use of the DPA to direct companies to produce needed supplies. Additionally, in recognition of the disproportionate toll COVID-19 has taken on racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S., VP Biden would establish a “COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force”.
VP Biden has also called for adopting measures that go beyond what have been passed by Congress or supported by the Administration to further extend fiscal relief to individuals, schools, and businesses, provide enhanced insurance coverage, support states in providing COVID-19 related services, and eliminate cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatment. For example, VP Biden would reopen enrollment for marketplace plans and cover COBRA at 100% for those who lose their jobs and health insurance due to COVID-19. In addition, VP Biden would further expand paid leave for sick workers and those caring for family members, among others, due to COVID-19, and provide additional pay for frontline/essential workers. On vaccine pricing, he would authorize the federal government to approve the price of any COVID-19 vaccine developed with federal resources, in contrast to the Trump Administration, which has said it does not want to pursue price controls. On schools, a key difference between Biden and Trump is Biden’s emphasis on the need to get the virus under control before reopening in-person education. More broadly, VP Biden proposes to expand and protect the ACA.
On the global front, VP Biden would “re-embrace international engagement,” leadership, and cooperation. His platform states that “Even as we take urgent steps to minimize the spread of COVID-19 at home, we must also help lead the response to this crisis globally. In doing so, we will lay the groundwork for sustained global health security leadership into the future.” He would act to restore the Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense at the NSC and work to help create a Global Health Emergency Board to harmonize crisis response for vulnerable communities around the world. Finally, he would restore funding to and fully resource the WHO and reverse the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from WHO membership.
Sources
Unless otherwise noted, the following are the primary sources for this side-by-side:
President Trump:
Vice President Biden:
Additional Links , Resources and Timeline
May 2018
The Trump Administration disbands the White House pandemic response team.
July 2019
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) epidemiologist embedded in China’s disease control agency left the post, and the Trump Administration eliminated the role.
Oct. 2019
“Currently, there are insufficient funding sources designated for the federal government to use in response to a severe influenza pandemic.”
Jan. 22, 2020
“We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. It’s going to be just fine.”
Jan. 24, 2020
Trump praises China’s handling of the coronavirus: “China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”
Jan. 28, 2020
“This will be the biggest national security threat you face in your presidency...This is going to be the roughest thing you face." Trump’s National Security Advisor says to Trump.
Jan. 30, 2020
"The lack of immune protection or an existing cure or vaccine would leave Americans defenseless in the case of a full-blown coronavirus outbreak on US soil,...This lack of protection elevates the risk of the coronavirus evolving into a full-blown pandemic, imperiling the lives of millions of Americans.” [Memo from Trump Trade Advisor Peter Navarro]
Feb. 2, 2020
“We pretty much shut it down coming in from China.”
Feb. 7, 2020
“It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flu... This is deadly stuff.” [Trump in a private interview with Bob Woodward from The Washington Post made public on Sept. 9, 2020]
Feb. 10, 2020
“I think the virus is going to be—it’s going to be fine.”
Feb. 10, 2020
“Looks like by April, you know in theory when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.”
Feb. 24, 2020
“The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA… the Stock Market starting to look very good to me!”
Feb. 25, 2020
“CDC and my Administration are doing a GREAT job of handling Coronavirus.”
Feb. 25, 2020
“I think that's a problem that’s going to go away… They have studied it. They know very much. In fact, we’re very close to a vaccine.”
Feb. 26, 2020
“The 15 (cases in the US) within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero.”
Feb. 26, 2020
“We're going very substantially down, not up.”
Feb. 26, 2020
“Well, we're testing everybody that we need to test. And we're finding very little problem. Very little problem.”
Feb. 26, 2020
"This is a flu. This is like a flu."
Feb. 27, 2020
“It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”
Feb. 27, 2020
“The ineptness with which the Trump Administration approached this problem is not only serious, it can be deadly if not changed in the approach.” – Rep. Lloyd Doggett [During a hearing, Rep. Doggett questions HHS Sec. Azar on Trump's refusal to take this virus seriously, warning about mask and test shortages.]
Feb. 28, 2020
“We're ordering a lot of supplies. We're ordering a lot of, uh, elements that frankly we wouldn't be ordering unless it was something like this. But we're ordering a lot of different elements of medical.”
March 2, 2020
“You take a solid flu vaccine, you don't think that could have an impact, or much of an impact, on corona?” [Trump to health officials who answered "No."]
March 2, 2020
“A lot of things are happening, a lot of very exciting things are happening and they’re happening very rapidly.”
March 4, 2020
“Now, and this is just my hunch, and — but based on a lot of conversations with a lot of people that do this. Because a lot people will have this and it's very mild.”
March 4, 2020
“If we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work — some of them go to work, but they get better.”
March 5, 2020
“I NEVER said people that are feeling sick should go to work.”
March 5, 2020
“The United States… has, as of now, only 129 cases… and 11 deaths. We are working very hard to keep these numbers as low as possible!”
March 6, 2020
“I think we’re doing a really good job in this country at keeping it down… a tremendous job at keeping it down.”
March 6, 2020
“You have to be calm. It’ll go away.”
March 6, 2020
“Anybody right now, and yesterday, anybody that needs a test gets a test. They’re there. And the tests are beautiful…. the tests are all perfect like the letter was perfect. The transcription was perfect. Right? This was not as perfect as that but pretty good.”
March 6, 2020
“I like this stuff. I really get it. People are surprised that I understand it… Every one of these doctors said, ‘How do you know so much about this?’ Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should have done that instead of running for president.”
March 6, 2020
“I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault.”
March 7, 2020
“No, I’m not concerned at all.
March 8, 2020
“We have a perfectly coordinated and fine-tuned plan at the White House for our attack on CoronaVirus.”
March 9, 2020
During a news conference, White House officials said the U.S. will have tested one million people that week and thereafter would complete 4 million tests per week. By the end of the week, the CDC had only completed a paltry 4,000 tests.
March 10, 2020
“Just stay calm. It will go away.”
March 11, 2020
The World Health Organization categorizes the coronavirus as a pandemic due to its alarming spread and severity.
March 11, 2020
“It goes away….It’s going away. We want it to go away with very, very few deaths.”
March 11, 2020
"The vast majority of Americans, the risk is very, very low"
March 12, 2020
“The system is not really geared to what we need right now...That is a failing. Let’s admit it.” [Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to Congress]
March 12, 2020
"You know, you see what's going on. And so I just wanted that to stop as it pertains to the United States. And that's what we've done. We've stopped it."
March 13, 2020
“I don’t take responsibility at all.”
March 13, 2020
The Atlantic reports that less than 14,000 tests have been done in the ten weeks since the Administration had first been notified of the virus, though Mike Pence had promised the week prior that 1.5 million tests would be available by this time.
March 14, 2020
“I’d rate it a ten,” [Trump’s rating of his coronavirus response]
March 15, 2020
“Relax.”
March 15, 2020
“This is a very contagious virus. It’s incredible. But it’s something that we have tremendous control over.”
March 16, 2020
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment-try getting it yourselves,”
March 17, 2020
“The only thing we haven’t done well is get good press.”
March 17, 2020
“I felt like it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic.”
March 19, 2020
I intended "to always play it down.” [Trump in a private taped interview with Bob Woodward, made public on September 9]
March 20, 2020
“I say that you're a terrible reporter, that's what I say. I think it's a very nasty question, and I think it's a very bad signal that you're putting out to the American people." [Response to reporter’s question: "What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now who are scared?"]
March 22, 2020
“WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF.”
March 24, 2020
“I'm also hopeful to have Americans working again by that Easter - that beautiful Easter day.”
March 24, 2020
“We’ve never closed down the country for the flu,” Trump said. “So you say to yourself, what is this all about?”
March 24, 2020
“They have to treat us well, also. They can’t say, ‘Oh, gee, we should get this, we should get that.’”
March 25, 2020
“The faster we go back, the better it’s going to be.”
March 26, 2020
The United States becomes the country with the most confirmed coronavirus cases. A title it keeps for the remainder of Trump's time in office.
March 26, 2020
“Congratulations AMERICA!” [On Senate passage of third relief bill]
March 26, 2020
“I don't believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You go into major hospitals sometimes, and they’ll have two ventilators. And now all of a sudden they’re saying, ‘Can we order 30,000 ventilators?’”
March 26, 2020
“We’ve had a big problem with the young, a woman governor from — you know who I’m talking about — from Michigan,”
March 27, 2020
“I love Michigan, one of the reasons we are doing such a GREAT job for them during this horrible Pandemic. Yet your Governor, Gretchen “Half” Whitmer is way in over her head, she doesn’t have a clue. Likes blaming everyone for her own ineptitude!”
March 27, 2020
“Mike, don’t call the governor of Washington. You’re wasting your time with him…”
March 27, 2020
“I want them to be appreciative. We've done a great job.”
March 27, 2020
“We’re doing a great job for the state of Washington and I think the Governor...he’s constantly chirping and I guess complaining would be a nice way of saying it.”
March 29, 2020
“Where are the masks going? Are they going out the back door? How do you go from 10,000 to 300,000?”
March 29, 2020
“Unfortunately the enemy is death. It's death. A lot of people are dying. So it's very unpleasant.”
March 30, 2020
"Stay calm, it will go away. You know it -- you know it is going away, and it will go away, and we're going to have a great victory."
March 30, 2020
“I think New York should be fine, based on the numbers that we see, they should have more than enough. I mean, I’m hearing stories that they’re not used or they’re not used right.”
March 30, 2020
“I haven’t heard about testing in weeks. We’re testing more than any other nation in the world. We’ve got these great tests...But I haven’t heard about testing being a problem.”
March 30, 2020
“We inherited a broken test — the whole thing was broken.”
March 31, 2020
“...it’s not the flu. It’s vicious.”
April 1, 2020
"They have to treat us well, also. They can't say, 'Oh, gee, we should get this, we should get that." [Trump's response to governors who were pleading for medical gear and ventilators to treat surging coronavirus hospitalizations]
April 2, 2020
“Massive amounts of medical supplies... are being delivered directly to states...Some have insatiable appetites & are never satisfied (politics?). The complainers should have been stocked up and ready long before this crisis hit.”
April 2, 2020
“...the Federal Government is merely a back-up for state governments.”
April 3, 2020
“I’m feeling good. I just don’t want to be doing -- somehow sitting in the Oval Office behind that beautiful resolute desk, the great resolute desk, I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens, I don’t know, somehow I don’t see it for myself. I just don’t. Maybe I’ll change my mind.”
April 5, 2020
“FEMA, the military — what they’ve done is a miracle...And you should be thanking them for what they’ve done, not always asking wise-guy questions.” [Trump's response to a reporter when asked about slow government response to coronavirus]
April 6, 2020
“LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!”
April 6, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 10,000
April 7, 2020
"So, you know, things are happening. It's a -- it's -- I haven't seen bad. I've not seen bad."
April 7, 2020
"You are not going to die from this pill...I really think it's a great thing to try." [Trump promoting Hydroxychloroquine, not FDA approved to treat coronavirus]
April 7, 2020
“That was a flu. OK. So you could say that I said it was a flu, or you could say the flu is nothing to -- sneeze at," [Regarding Spanish Flu]
April 8, 2020
"I read about it maybe a day, two days ago,...It was a recommendation that he had, I think he told certain people on the staff, but it didn't matter. I didn't see it." [Trump referring to Peter Navarro’s January warning]
April 9, 2020
“I couldn’t have done it any better.” [When asked if his coronavirus response could have been better]
April 11, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 20,000.
April 13, 2020
“But I guess I'm doing OK, because, to the best of my knowledge, I'm the President of the United States, despite the things that are said."
April 14, 2020
“Enough!” [When a reporter questioned his claim that his authority as president is “total”]
April 14, 2020
“[w]hen somebody’s the president of the United States, the authority is total.”
April 15, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 30,000
April 15, 2020
As Trump focuses on reopening, a leaked CDC and FEMA report warns of “significant risk of resurgence of the virus” with phased reopening.
April 19, 2020
“Now we’re going toward 50, I’m hearing, or 60,000 people [dead from the coronavirus].”
April 20, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 40,000.
April 22, 2020
“If [coronavirus] comes back though, it won’t be coming back in the form that it was, it will be coming back in smaller doses that we can contain….it’s also possible it doesn’t come back at all.”
April 23, 2020
"I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning? As you see, it gets in the lungs, it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that." This prompted the makers of Lysol to issue a warning, “under no circumstances” should this be done.
April 23, 2020
“So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and I think you said, that hasn't been checked but you're gonna test it. And then I said, supposing it brought the light inside the body, which you can either do either through the skin or some other way…”
April 23, 2020
“You see states are starting to open up now, and it’s very exciting to see.”
April 23, 2020
Over 26 million jobless claims have been filed.
April 24, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 50,000.
April 26, 2020
“The people that know me and know the history of our Country say that I am the hardest working President in history.”
April 27, 2020
"I can't imagine why." [Trump’s response to the influx in poison control calls about disinfectant]
April 29, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 60,000.
April 29, 2020
“It’s gonna go away, this is going to go away.”
May 3, 2020
“Look, we're going to lose anywhere from 75,000, 80,000 to 100,000 people.”
May 5, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 70,000.
May 5, 2020
Consumer debt hits an all-time high.
May 5, 2020
“Well run States should not be bailing out poorly run States, using Coronavirus as the excuse!”
May 5, 2020
“I always felt 60, 65, 70, as horrible as that is. I mean, you’re talking about filling up Yankee Stadium with death! So I thought it was horrible. But it’s probably going to be somewhat higher than that.”
May 5, 2020
“There’ll be more death, that the virus will pass, with or without a vaccine. And I think we’re doing very well on the vaccines but, with or without a vaccine, it’s going to pass, and we’re going to be back to normal.”
May 5, 2020
“I don’t want to be Mr. Gloom-and-Doom. It’s a very bad subject,...I’m not looking to tell the American people when nobody really knows what’s happening yet, ‘Oh, this is going to be so tragic.’”
May 6, 2020
The Brookings Institution reports that children were “experiencing food insecurity to an extent unprecedented in modern times” and “40.9 percent of mothers with children ages 12 and under reported household food insecurity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Republicans block proposals to expand food stamps.
May 6, 2020
“Sporadic for you, but not sporadic for a lot of other people.” [Trump’s response to a nurse telling him that equipment supply has been “sporadic”]
May 7, 2020
Over 33 million jobless claims have been filed.
May 8, 2020
“This is going to go away without a vaccine. It is going to go away. We are not going to see it again.”
May 9, 2020
“This is going to go away without a vaccine.”
May 11, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 80,000.
May 11, 2020
“Coronavirus numbers are looking MUCH better, going down almost everywhere. Big progress being made!”
May 11, 2020
“We have met the moment and we have prevailed.”
May 14, 2020
“Could be that testing’s, frankly, overrated. Maybe it is overrated.”
May 14, 2020
“Don’t forget, we have more cases than anybody in the world. But why? Because we do more testing.”
May 15, 2020
“Vaccine or no vaccine, we’re back. And we’re starting the process. In many cases, they don’t have vaccines and a virus or a flu comes and you fight through it.
May 16, 2020
“We’ve done a GREAT job on Covid response, making all Governors look good, some fantastic (and that’s OK), but the Lamestream Media doesn’t want to go with that narrative, and the Do Nothing Dems talking point is to say only bad about “Trump”. I made everybody look good, but me!”
May 18, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 90,000.
May 19, 2020
“When we have a lot of cases, I don't look at that as a bad thing, I look at that as, in a certain respect, as being a good thing,...Because it means our testing is much better. I view it as a badge of honor, really, it's a badge of honor.”
May 21, 2020
USA Today reports that home mortgage delinquencies surged by 1.6 million in April, the largest single-month jump in history.
May 22, 2020
Over 38 million jobless claims have been filed.
May 27, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 100,000.
May 29, 2020
“We will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization”
June 6, 20202
U.S death toll passes 110,000.
June 6, 2020
“Hopefully George is looking down right now and saying this is a great thing that’s happening for our country...This is a great day for him. It’s a great day for everybody. This is a great day for everybody. This is a great, great day in terms of equality.” [Trump referring to George Floyd, who was murdered on May 25, 2020.]
June 15, 2020
“At some point this stuff goes away and it’s going away.”
June 17, 2020
“It’s fading away. It’s going to fade away.”
June 18, 2020
“And it is dying out. The numbers are starting to get very good.”
June 20, 2020
"Testing is a double-edged sword,...When you do testing to that extent, you're going to find more people, you're going to find more cases, so I said to my people, 'Slow the testing down, please.'"
June 22, 2020
U.S death toll passes 120,000.
June 23, 2020
“Cases are going up in the U.S. because we are testing far more than any other country, and ever expanding. With smaller testing we would show fewer cases!”
June 23, 2020
"It's going away."
June 25, 2020
“The number of ChinaVirus cases goes up, because of GREAT TESTING, while the number of deaths (mortality rate), goes way down. The Fake News doesn’t like telling you that!”
June 25, 2020
“Coronavirus deaths are way down. Mortality rate is one of the lowest in the World. Our Economy is roaring back and will NOT be shut down. “Embers” or flare ups will be put out, as necessary!”
June 30, 2020
The U.S. has just 4% of the global population, but 25% of global coronavirus cases and the second-highest death rate per capita.
July 1, 2020
“I think we’re going to be very good with the coronavirus.” “I think that, at some point, that’s going to sort of disappear, I hope.”
July 6, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 130,000.
July 7, 2020
"I think we are in a good place."
July 7, 2020
The president predicted that in the next two to four weeks, "I think we're going to be in very good shape."
July 8, 2020
“In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November election, but it is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!”
July 8, 2020
“I disagree with @CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools. While they want them open, they are asking school [sic] to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!!!”
July 18, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 140,000.
July 19, 2020
“I think we have one of the lowest mortality rates in the world.”
July 19, 2020
“Many of those cases are young people that would heal in a day.”
“They have the sniffles, and we put it down as a test.”
July 21, 2020
"You will never hear this on the Fake News concerning the China Virus, but by comparison to most other countries, who are suffering greatly, we are doing very well - and we have done things that few other countries could have done!”
July 27, 2020
"America will develop a vaccine very soon, and we will defeat the virus. We will have it delivered in record time."
July 28, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 150,000.
July 28, 2020
"He's got this high approval rating. So why don't I have a high approval rating with respect -- and the administration -- with respect to the virus?" (Trump referring to Anthony Fauci)
Aug. 1, 2020
“Wrong! We have more cases because we have tested far more than any other country, 60,000,000. If we tested less, there would be less cases,” (Donald Trump in a retweet of Anthony Fauci saying the U.S. has seen more cases than European countries because it only shut down a fraction of its economy amid the pandemic)
Aug. 3, 2020
"I think we are doing very well and I think ... as well as any nation."
Aug. 3, 2020
"They are dying. That's true. And you — it is what it is.”
Aug. 3, 2020
“OPEN THE SCHOOLS!!!”
Aug. 3, 2020
“Right now I think it’s under control.”
Aug. 3, 2020
“You know, there are those that say you can test too much, you do know that.”
Aug. 4, 2020
"...we have among the lowest numbers." - White House Press Briefing
Aug. 5, 2020
“If you look at children, children are almost - and I would almost say definitely - but almost immune from this disease.”
Aug. 5, 2020
“We’re supplying the world now with ventilators. You go back four months, we didn’t have any.” - Fox and Friends
Aug. 5, 2020
“It will go away like things go away.”
Aug. 6, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 160,000.
Aug. 12, 2020
U.S. reports the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in one day since mid-May.
Aug. 16, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 170,000.
Aug. 19, 2020
New York Times report reveals that in December 2020 that Trump yelled, “You’re killing me! This whole thing is! We’ve got all the damn cases...I want to do what Mexico does. They don’t give you a test till you get to the emergency room and you’re vomiting,” at Jared Kushner during an August 19, 2020 meeting.
Aug. 22, 2020
“Many doctors and studies disagree with this!” (Donald Trump in a quote tweet of a Twitter moment stating that the FDA is revoking hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for COVID-19 treatment, as they are “unlikely to be effective”)
Aug. 22, 2020
“The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed, and saving lives!”
Aug. 23, 2020
The President claims that ballot drop boxes are a “voter security disaster” and a “big fraud,” “possible for a person to vote multiple times” and that they aren’t “Covid sanitized.”
Aug. 26, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 180,000.
Aug. 31, 2020
"We've done a great job in Covid but we don't get the credit."
Aug. 31, 2020
Over six million Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Sept. 4, 2020
There will be a vaccine “before the end of the year and maybe even before Nov. 1. I think we can probably have it sometime in October.”
Sept. 9, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 190,000.
Sept. 10, 2020
“I really do believe that we are rounding the corner. The vaccines are right there.”
Sept. 10, 2020
“This is nobody's fault but China.”
Sept. 10, 2020
“We've possibly done the best job.”
Sept. 10, 2020
“We have rounded the final turn.”
Sept. 10, 2020
“I think that we've probably done the best job of any country.”
Sept. 14, 2020
Trump was asked if he is afraid of Coronavirus risk at his rallies: “I’m on a stage, it’s very far away, so I’m not at all concerned.”
Sept. 16, 2020
“If you take the blue states out, we’re at a level I don’t think anybody in the world would be at.”
Sept. 16, 2020
Reporter: “[The head of the CDC] said that the vaccine for the general public wouldn’t be available until next Summer or maybe even early fall. Are you comfortable with that timeline?” Trump: “I think he made a mistake when he said that. That’s just incorrect information.”
Sept. 19, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 200,000.
Sept. 21, 2020
“Take your hat off to the young because they have a hell of an immune system. But [the virus] affects virtually nobody. It’s an amazing thing. By the way, open your schools everybody, open your schools.”
Sept. 21, 2020
"We're rounding the corner," "With or without a vaccine. They hate when I say that but that's the way it is. ... We've done a phenomenal job. Not just a good job, a phenomenal job. Other than public relations, but that's because I have fake news. On public relations, I give myself a D. On the job itself, we take an A+."
Sept. 21, 2020
"In some states, thousands of people — nobody young. Below the age of 18, like, nobody. They have a strong immune system, who knows? Take your hat off to the young, because they have a hell of an immune system. But it affects virtually nobody. It’s an amazing thing.By the way, open your schools everybody, open your schools.”
Sept. 21, 2020
"It affects elderly people, elderly people with heart problems, if they have other problems, that's what it really affects, that's it. In some states thousands of people — nobody young — below the age of 18, like nobody — they have a strong immune system — who knows?"
Sept. 23, 2020
"I think we’re rounding the turn very much."
Sept. 28, 2020
"And I say, and I’ll say it all the time: We’re rounding the corner. And, very importantly, vaccines are coming, but we’re rounding the corner regardless. But vaccines are coming, and they’re coming fast. "
Sept. 29, 2020
"Well, so far we have had no problem whatsoever. " [Trump referring to the thousands of people attending his rallies]
October 2, 2020
Trump and the First Lady test positive for Coronavirus. More than a dozen White House staff and aides test positive shortly thereafter.
Oct. 5, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 210,000.
Oct. 5, 2020
“Don’t be afraid of Covid.”
Oct. 6, 2020
"Many people every year, sometimes over 100,000, and despite the Vaccine, die from the Flu, Are we going to close down our Country? No, we have learned to live with it, just like we are learning to live with Covid, in most populations far less lethal!!!"
Oct. 10, 2020
"But it’s going to disappear; it is disappearing."
Oct. 11, 2020
"...We have done a “phenomenal” job, according to certain governors. Many people agree...And now come the Vaccines & Cures, long ahead of projections!"
Oct. 12, 2020
"Under my leadership, we're delivering a safe vaccine and a rapid recovery like nobody can even believe. And if you look at our upward path, no country in the world has recovered the way we've recovered economically or otherwise, not even close."
Oct. 12, 2020
“I went through it. Now, they say I'm immune. I can feel—I feel so powerful.”
Oct. 12, 2020
“When this first came out, if we didn't do a good job, they predicted 2.2 million people would die, we're 210,000. We shouldn't be at, one, it's China's fault. They allowed this to happen.”
Oct. 15, 2020
“Excess mortality, we’re a winner on the excess mortality. And what we’ve done has been amazing. And we have done an amazing job. And it’s rounding the corner and we have the vaccines coming, and we have the therapies coming.”
Oct. 18, 2020
"He'll listen to the scientists... If I listened totally to the scientists, we would right now have a country that would be in a massive depression instead — we’re like a rocket ship. Take a look at the numbers." [Trump referring to Biden]
Oct. 19, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 220,000.
Oct. 19, 2020
"People are saying whatever. Just leave us alone. They’re tired of it. People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots...Fauci is a nice guy. He’s been here for 500 years."
Oct. 19, 2020
"They are getting tired of the pandemic, aren't they? You turn on CNN, that's all they cover. 'Covid, Covid, Pandemic, Covid, Covid.' You know why? They're trying to talk everybody out of voting. People aren't buying it, CNN, you dumb bastards."
Oct. 20, 2020
Politico reports that The White House is considering slashing millions of dollars for coronavirus relief, HIV treatment, screenings for newborns and other programs in Democratic-led cities that President Donald Trump has deemed “anarchist jurisdictions.”
Oct. 22, 2020
"We are rounding the turn (on coronavirus). We are rounding the corner.”
Oct. 24, 2020
“Turn on television: ‘covid, covid, covid, covid, covid.’ A plane goes down, 500 people dead, they don’t talk about it — ‘covid, covid, covid, covid,’ “By the way, on November 4th, you won’t hear about it anymore.”
Oct. 26, 2020
"Cases up because we TEST, TEST, TEST. A Fake News Media Conspiracy. Many young people who heal very fast. 99.9%. Corrupt Media conspiracy at all time high. On November 4th, the topic will totally change. VOTE!"
Oct. 26, 2020
"We have made tremendous progress with the China Virus, but the Fake News refuses to talk about it this close to the Election. COVID, COVID, COVID is being used by them, in total coordination, in order to change our great early election numbers. Should be an election law violation!"
Oct. 27, 2020
"So they brought it down now, immunity, from life to four months. And you know now with them, you can’t watch anything else. You turn on… COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID, COVID. Well, we have a spike in cases. You ever notice, they don’t use the word death. They use the word cases, cases. Like, “Barron Trump is a case.” He has sniffles. He was sniffling. One Kleenex, that’s all he needed. One, and he was better. But he’s a case."
Oct. 27, 2020
"November 4th. On November 4th, you’ll hear, “It’s getting better. It’s getting better.” You watch. No, no, they’re doing heavy COVID because they want to scare people, and people get it." [Trump referring to news media]
Oct. 28, 2020
"Covid, Covid, Covid is the unified chant of the Fake News Lamestream Media. They will talk about nothing else until November 4th., when the Election will be (hopefully!) over. Then the talk will be how low the death rate is, plenty of hospital rooms, & many tests of young people."
Oct. 30, 2020
"More Testing equals more Cases. We have the best testing. Deaths WAY DOWN. Hospitals have great additional capacity! Doing much better than Europe. Therapeutics working!"
Oct. 30, 2020
Nine million Americans have now been infected by the coronavirus.
Oct. 30, 2020
“Our doctors get more money if someone dies from Covid,” and so “when in doubt choose Covid.”
Nov. 1, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 230,000.
Nov. 1, 2020
“Biden wants to LOCK DOWN our Country, maybe for years. Crazy! There will be NO LOCKDOWNS. The great American Comeback is underway!!!”
Nov. 2, 2020
“Joe Biden is promising to delay the vaccine and turn America into a prison state—locking you in your home while letting far-left rioters roam free. The Biden Lockdown will mean no school, no graduations, no weddings, no Thanksgiving, no Christmas, no Fourth of July.”
Nov. 2, 2020
“We have more Cases because we have more Testing!”
Nov. 9, 2020
“If Joe Biden were President, you wouldn’t have the Vaccine for another four years, nor would the @US_FDA have ever approved it so quickly. The bureaucracy would have destroyed millions of lives”
Nov. 10, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 240,000.
Nov. 11, 2020
U.S. hits a record 140,000 COVID-19 cases per day.
November 11, 2020
Texas hits 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Nov. 18, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 250,000.
Nov. 19, 2020
Last Coronavirus Task Force press briefing under the Trump Administration.
Nov. 24, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 260,000.
Dec. 2, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 270,000.
Dec. 7, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 280,000.
Dec. 8, 2020
“Before Operation Warp Speed, the typical time [for vaccine approval] could be infinity.”
Dec. 8, 2020
Trump continues holding White House holiday parties despite guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to limit indoor gatherings and curtain travel amid the spike in virus infections. Masks are not required, according to guests.
Dec. 9, 2020
3,103 U.S. COVID-19 deaths in one day.
Dec. 10, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 290,000.
Dec. 14, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 300,000.
Dec. 17, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 310,000.
Dec. 22, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 320,000.
Dec. 22, 2020
“Distribution of both vaccines is going very smoothly. Amazing how many people are being vaccinated, record numbers. Our Country, and indeed the World, will soon see the great miracle of what the Trump Administration has accomplished. They said it couldn’t be done!!!”
Dec. 25, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 330,000.
Dec. 30, 2020
As recently as mid-December, the Trump administration touted an ambitious goal: 20 million COVID-19 vaccinations by the year’s end. A CDC tracker shows only about 2 million people have been vaccinated so far.
Dec. 31, 2020
U.S. death toll passes 340,000.
Dec. 31, 2020
Trump tweets, “The Federal Government has distributed the vaccines to the states. Now it is up to the states to administer. Get moving!”
Dec. 31, 2020
HHS awards a contract to a private firm to review COVID-19 tests in an attempt to bypass scientists at the FDA.
January 1, 2021
U.S. surpasses 20 million confirmed COVID-19 cases.
January 3, 2021
U.S. death toll passes 350,000.
January 3, 2021
“Something how Dr. Fauci is revered by the LameStream Media as such a great professional, having done, they say, such an incredible job, yet he works for me and the Trump Administration, and I am in no way given any credit for my work. Gee, could this just be more Fake News?”
January 3, 2021
“The number of cases and deaths of the China Virus is far exaggerated in the United States because of @CDCgov’s ridiculous method of determination compared to other countries, many of whom report, purposely, very inaccurately and low. “When in doubt, call it Covid.” Fake News!” Fauci responds, "The deaths are real deaths. All you need to do is go out into the trenches…”
January 3, 2021
Trump tweets, “The vaccines are being delivered to the states by the Federal Government far faster than they can be administered!”
January 4, 2021
CDC reports that 4.6 million people have been vaccinated.
January 6, 2021
U.S. death toll passes 360,000.
January 6, 2021
Trump mob storms Congress. Officials reported at least 3,963 new coronavirus deaths in the US, a new single-day record.
January 9, 2021
U.S. death toll passes 370,000.
January 12, 2021
HHS Secretary Alex Azar announced that the federal government would begin releasing vaccine doses that had been held in reserve for second shots, but no such reserve existed. His false announcement raised false hopes among state and local officials.
January 13, 2021
U.S. death toll passes 380,000.
January 14, 2021
The Trump administration promised to have 20 million people given their first shot by the end of 2020. Two weeks later, they have administered just over 11 million.
January 15, 2021
12 million doses of vaccine administered.
January 16, 2021
U.S. death tool passes 390,000.
January 18, 2021
Washington Post reports that emergency PPP loans were provided for organizations that spread misinformation about coronavirus and vaccination.
January 20, 2021
Each day in January, Covid-19 killed an average of 3,100 people in the United States — one every 28 seconds.
January 20, 2021
Trump's term in office saw over 25 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States, over 400,000 of which resulted in death.
President-elect Joseph R. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are sworn into office.
Source: https://doggett.house.gov/media/blog-post/timeline-trumps-coronavirus-responses
