, 10.02.2020 05:42 AM

Guess it isn’t a hoax, after all

It is what it is.

WASHINGTON — President Trump revealed early Friday morning that he and the first lady, Melania Trump, had tested positive for the coronavirus, throwing the nation’s leadership into uncertainty and escalating the crisis posed by a pandemic that has already killed more than 207,000 Americans and devastated the economy.

Mr. Trump, who for months has played down the seriousness of the virus and hours earlier on Thursday night told an audience that “the end of the pandemic is in sight,” will quarantine in the White House for an unspecified period of time, forcing him to withdraw at least temporarily from the campaign trail only 32 days before the election on Nov. 3.

19 Comments

  1. Ronald O'Dowd says:

    You can bet that Trump will want to get in touch with that group of other people, who got COVID-19, and are in a distinct category, you know, those in the most important segment: those 1,o28,523 people. Unfortunately, they are all dead so he won’t get to learn COVID’s true lessons.

  2. This is good news for his dismal reelection prospects. He will gain a sympathy vote and he will benefit from talking less and not debating. If he dies Pence will have a much better chance of winning then Trump ever did.

    • the real Sean says:

      I don’t buy that. The whole Trump cult is based on “I know better”, “We know things average people don’t know”, “We have secret formulae for success” etc…. They have none of these things now. They’ve been exposed as being human, fallible, capable of gambling and losing. This was the only thing that would shake his base away. They needed to believe that he was invincible. That has been taken away from them and I think the nightmare is over.

    • Ronald O'Dowd says:

      Darwin,

      I would argue that much of Trump’s support is more based on a personal loyalty to him and his cult of personality. My guess is that if for whatever reason Pence ultimately contests the election as the presidential candidate that lots of people on the Republican side won’t exactly be breaking down doors to vote. IMHO, that can only be a net positive for Biden.

    • Tod Cowen says:

      Since this is uncharted territory, we can at least fall back on what we know from elections since FDR. The re-election of incumbent US presidents is tied to the economy, which isn’t good news for Trump. The national vote share for US presidents seeking re-election is generally close to their approval rating, which for Trump has been in the low 40’s, occasionally hitting 45+ in Rasmussen (which skews R.) And this race has been remarkably static for a long time, with a 5-7 national lead for Biden, suggesting relatively little potential for movement. Of course, a 5-point Biden win in the national vote could still see a Trump win in the Electoral College.

      Does Trump’s illness lead any of those metrics to change? Probably not: the economy still sucks. Trump is a uniquely unsympathetic candidate, so it’s doubtful that there’s a sympathy factor that would boost his numbers. His campaign may well be constrained by low fundraising performance. Hard to see Trump coming roaring back to the extent that it changes the dynamic of the race.

      We are beginning to see some numbers emerge on mail-in voting–numbers of ballots requested, with breakdowns by party affiliation in a couple of states. In North Carolina, numbers for mail-in ballots requested have already set records, with 48% coming from registered D’s and only 18% from R’s. I’ve heard similar stories in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Just a handful of data points, but not good news for Trump.

      (Caveat: I also thought Michael Dukakis would win in 88, and had a cup of coffee with the Tsongas campaign in 92. Not exactly backing winners.)

  3. Ron says:

    I worry how this will affect Biden and the pandemic response in American if Trump has a mild case and recovers quickly. Some will see it as vindication of his frequent suppositions around COVID not being that bad.

    On the other hand, if he dies, that gives us Pence. In an election year where part of Biden’s charm is that he’s an old boring guy, I’m not sure we need someone else competing for the old and boring segment, especially in places like Florida.

    Of course, the Dems could and should do all they can to tie Trump’s COVID stance to Pence, so maybe that would bode well for them.

    Let us just hope that Biden’s ok after having been yelled at by that clown for 90 minutes a few days ago.

    • Ronald O'Dowd says:

      Ron,

      Biden is as tough as a diamond. With all the repeated tragedy he has had to endure, he makes Trump look like a wimp and a coward.

  4. Robert White says:

    Trump’s media exposure has been muted lately, but this latest revelation of his contracting COVID-19 is reinstating his presence via all media once again.

    If Trump is hospitalized he will get even greater exposure pre-election IMHO. Frankly, once he realizes that the stock market tanked on the COVID news, and that he is getting more media exposure, he will laud the disease as a ratings boon to his confidence game to retain power.

    Trump is a text book Psychopath that is bent on manipulation of the news cycle no matter what is manifesting geopolitically. His thoughts are self-centered and he cares not for Americans or American taxpayers.

    Trump is all about getting attention for his out of control narcissistic rage run amok.

    I’m Trumped out, and the Republican Party adherents can go to Hell.

    RW

    • Ronald O'Dowd says:

      Robert,

      Thank God for Republican groups like The Lincoln Project, Right Side PAC and Republican Voters Against Trump. May they seal the deal.

  5. the real Sean says:

    President: Biden
    VP: Harris
    AG: Schiff
    Sec Treas: Bloomberg
    Sec Def: Buttigieg
    Sec VA: Duckworth
    Sec State: Engel
    Sec Interior: Warren
    Sec HHS: Cuomo
    EPA: Newsom
    Director of CIA: Rice
    *******************
    Trump: JAIL
    Melania: JAIL
    Pence: JAIL
    Kushner: JAIL
    Trump JR: JAIL
    Ivanka: JAIL
    Baron: JAIL – I bet he knows something about Russia!
    Mnuchin: JAIL
    Pompeo: JAIL
    DeVos: JAIL
    Wolf: JAIL
    Meadows: JAIL

    • Ronald O'Dowd says:

      TRS,

      I don’t find this line of argument very effective: remember when Trump was “supposed” to put Hillary in jail? He’s still waiting to be able to do that. In short, sure, we may eventually see some people brought up on charges but I seriously doubt it will be beyond drip, drip, drip.

  6. Chris Scott says:

    How pathetic.
    The WH knew of Hick’s positive result Thursday morning. They also knew Hick’s had close contact with the President. Knowing both these facts they ignored CDC advice and sent the President to a campaign rally and fundraising dinner Thursday evening. Of course he wasn’t wearing a mask. Presumably the crowd Thursday were some of his most avid supporters. Well if this is what he thinks of his most loyal friends and family, knowingly putting them at risk without telling them, what does he really think of “everyday Americans”. I just shake my head.
    My assumption is that this changes nothing. I reckon his loyal supporters will continue to defend him to the bitter end. With friends like this who needs enemies?
    My real sympathy is with the 207,000 Americans, and their families, who have paid the ultimate price for the mismanagement of the pandemic.

    • Ronald O'Dowd says:

      Chris,

      In this environment, it’s not too far fetched to suggest that Trump’s own illness will be a referendum on how he and his Administration handled the COVID-19 crisis and to what extent they are responsible for the deaths. I will leave it at that.

  7. Jim R says:

    Well, he never did say *exactly when* it would miraculously disappear. 🙂

    Since Trump is tested at least once a day, the infection was probably caught very early on. As well, he’s likely being pumped full of steroids and anything else known to be effective at treating the virus.

    So don’t be surprised if in a week or so he bounces back and says something moronic like: “See, I told you it was no worse than catching a cold”. Sigh.

  8. William says:

    One of his deranged followers actually wondered if it was a deep state plot. She wondered why Democratic leaders were not getting Covid, only a long list of Republicans. The stupid literally burns in these people.

  9. Marc says:

    I found hard not feel schadenfreude and think about karma when I heard about his diagnosis. All contrary to my catholic christian upbringing. But there is was.

    It will be interesting as they try to control the messaging on this to be sure.

    This race is still Biden’s to lose regardless if Trump gets bump from this or not.

    There will be concerns if trump is part of the low precent that takes a bad turn. Some of his dogs my go off leash, i’m sure china would be concerned since it’s “the chinese virus”. For all those reasons and his 13 year old kid. I hope he pulls through and Biden beats him properly in the election.

  10. duojet says:

    Does anyone have the feeling that Covid-19 got up one morning and said: “Donald Trump: one day you’re just going to magically disappear” ?

  11. Andy Kaut says:

    ….Pretty sure the Trumpkin didn’t ever say it was a hoax.

    Even Snopes has to cede the point, and we’re certain of their levels of truthiness when it comes to politics.

    https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-coronavirus-rally-remark/

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