US president Donald Trump will now talk more about the economy and less about the Coronavirus, according to White House aides.
There have been growing concerns about the president’s messages about the virus, something that has caused a backlash in recent weeks. Trump aides believe that he’s more comfortable talking about the economy than anything else, and that will now be the focus of his briefings moving forward.
Trump has been accused of using the Coronavirus briefings as a campaign platform amidst growing criticism of how his administration has handled the crisis.
The president has often tapped himself on the back every time he has appeared in front of reporters, reminding everyone that his administration has “done a great job” in the way it has addressed the COVID-19 pandemic, but there have been a lot of concerns beyond that.
Trump’s aides have become increasingly worried about his comments, including some unfounded claims that have sent the country into disbelief. Just recently, Trump appeared to suggest that bleach and sunlight could be injected into the human body as a possible treatment for the virus, something that the media and political pundits found extremely unusual.
The president did, however, note later that he was being sarcastic. Of course, it didn’t stop the speculation about his “messaging failures” related to the virus.
In reaction to Trump’s sentiments, the office of the US Surgeon General, the CDC, and even the manufacturers of Lysol, a leading bleach and disinfectant brand in the US, issued statements warning against the ingestion of these products.
Many Republicans are worried that the president’s briefings during this time of crisis are hurting his reelection chances. Internal polling from the party in fact shows Trump losing in a number of key swing states such as Florida, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Internal GOP pollsters believe that the president’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis is a huge factor here and if nothing changes, the path towards victory in November may be very narrow.
Many experts believe that Trump’s chances of winning reelection in November will largely depend on how fast the economy rebounds after the crisis.
Right now, the US economy is already in recession. Over 26 million Americans are now out of work, and more are expected to face the same fate over the coming months. It’s literally the worst economic crisis in the US since the depression, worse even than the 2008 financial crisis.
There’s even worry within the GOP that Trump’s dismal performance in handling the coronavirus pandemic will have adverse effects on the party’s chances of retaining the senate.
While a lot can change over the next few months, it doesn’t seem like the crisis is behind us, despite growing reassurances from the president and his administration.
Trump has insisted that states reopen their economies even with the ongoing public health crisis. But it seems like most governors, including some in the GOP, are favoring a slower more cautious reopening, something that may not help a quick rebound of the economy. The president’s approval ratings have also dropped in recent weeks.
