We know what it takes to contain and combat a global health emergency like Coronavirus—and the Trump administration has done the opposite.
Here's how NOT to confront an epidemic: nationalsecurityaction.org/newsroom/coron…
Here's how NOT to confront an epidemic: nationalsecurityaction.org/newsroom/coron…
First, there's no substitute for preparedness—both home and abroad—but the Trump administration has taken an axe to investments by the previous administration aimed at global health security.
For example, Trump eliminated the post of Senior Director for Global Health Security and Biothreats on his NSC staff one day after the Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed an Ebola outbreak. csis.org/analysis/healt…
Second, the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa reinforced the indispensability of American leadership, which ultimately helped end the outbreak.
Trump has repeatedly dismissed the severity of the threat of the Coronavirus, claiming China has it "totally under control," despite the rapid spread of the disease in China and beyond—sending the wrong message to allies we need to help respond to this. politico.com/news/2020/01/2…
As a private citizen, Trump could not have been more wrong in his criticism of how President Obama handled the Ebola crisis. As President, he's just as misguided now.
