In an attempt to rebut the accusations that he was slow to act on the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump’s team stitched together a video timeline that has ultimately backfired. Critically missing in the timeline that is set to stirring music as background to Trump’s statements is any mention of his actions or comments in the month of February, except for one about the CDC testing kits, most of them defective, which is nothing to boast about as Trump did.
The goof is typical as Trump is pulling out all stops, lies, and fiction to cover the fact that he terribly miscalculated the devastation wrought by the disease. Now with more than 577, 300 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. the number of those who have died is beyond 23,200. If the curve of the disease is flattening in some parts of the country it’s reaching an apex elsewhere.
Meanwhile, a standoff appears to be looming between Trump and the nation’s governors on when and how the businesses and schools will reopen. New York Gov. Cuomo said that it would be a “constitutional crisis” if Trump tried to exert federal power over the states. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he has the authority to control when and how to reopen the shuttered nation.
Such plans have even aroused his fellow Republicans who fired back on Tuesday, warning him that under the constitution he does not have unlimited powers. He was also warned against overreaching.
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would be establishing the guidance for reopening the nation, particularly at the state level. “It’s going to be the governors who are going to make decisions about when certain activities are allowed.” He said that was the appropriate place where orders ought to emanate with possible modifications thereafter.
Gov. Cuomo said he would not engage Trump: “I don’t know what the president is talking about, frankly,” he told NBC. “We have a constitution, we don’t have a king. The president does not have total authority.” In his retort, Trump turned to cinema, citing that “Mutiny on the Bounty” was one of his favorite films. “A good old fashioned mutiny every now and then is an exciting and invigorating thing to watch, especially when the mutineers need so much from the captain. Too easy.”
Perhaps Trump the movie buff should check out “The Sea Wolf” and “Caine Mutiny” since he is resorting to fiction when the world is facing a seemingly ceaseless real horror.