No leadership, no empathy - Americans don't deserve a bad crisis manager like Donald Trump. Nevertheless, they may re-elect him in November, says Alexandra von Nahmen.
His now almost daily Corona press conferences are intended to demonstrate confidence and decision-making power. But for those who are looking for orientation and are interested in facts, they can hardly be endured. In his appearances, the US President often spreads half-truths or even simple lies and attacks the press when asked. His messages are contradictory, his crisis management could cost the lives of many Americans.
When his own intelligence agencies warned of the corona virus in January, Donald Trump downplayed the danger. When the virus spread unchecked due to the lack of tests, he spoke of having everything under control. He now describes himself as a "war president" who fights an invisible enemy. But it is not Trump who is courageous and decisive in the crisis and encourages the unsettled nation, but the democrat Andrew Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, the current epicenter of the corona crisis in the United States.
Trump's conflicting messages
While the number of patients in New York and other parts of the country is increasing rapidly and more and more American hospitals are reaching their limits, President Trump wants to start the economy again soon. While doctors in New York City are preparing to have to decide who will be saved and who will die soon due to the lack of ventilators, Donald Trump has recently raved about crowded churches at Easter.
Last Saturday he announced that the White House was considering
to impose exit restrictions on the states of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Just a few hours later, he took his idea back. Instead, the CDC issued a recommendation to the residents of the affected regions to refrain from unnecessary travel.
Trump's poll scores are rising
New York governor Cuomo reported panicked calls from New Yorkers who were considering leaving the city in time. "America, who did you choose for the White House!" you want to call in such a moment.
And yet Trump's poll values are increasing. The shaken and frightened nation gathers around its president, as usual in times of crisis. And he promises that the country will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever because America is America. A great country that can do it all. Pathos and confidence - there are moments when Trump takes on the role that is attributed to the President in the United States. Unfortunately, such moments usually only last a few minutes before Trump exposes himself again as a vain self-portrayal, who prides himself on the ratings of his press conferences and complained bitterly that the media and nagging governors did not pay enough respect to him.
A check from the president?
It doesn't matter to his followers. They believe in "their" president. And at least many Americans will soon receive a check for $ 1,200 from the government - as direct aid in the crisis, which is now also staggering the US economy. Rumor has it that Trump would very much like to see his own signature on the checks. You can hardly imagine a better election gift.
The money is part of the most extensive bailout package in U.S. history passed by Congress across party borders last week. This includes billions in aid for workers, but also subsidies and loans for small businesses, hospitals and particularly hard-hit industries, such as the aviation industry.
Trump's challenger is fighting for attention
Democrats and Republicans have had to swallow a lot to get this law on the way for America to survive this crisis economically. For the US president, who has always defined himself through economic growth and stock market records, that seems to be the priority. Trump's calculation: If the economy grows again and unemployment declines in time for the autumn elections, his voters will remain loyal to him.
His prospective challenger - former Vice President Joe Biden of the Democrats - has great difficulty in being noticed in the current situation. The fact that he has shown more empathy and expertise in the crisis than the current incumbent does little to help him in this exceptional situation.
Because in times like these everyone looks at the man in the White House. And if America masters this crisis - because of Trump, or despite Trump - then the president has a good chance of being confirmed in office in November.
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