As both an emergency manager and as someone who helped manage the 2014 USG Ebola response, let me tell you why this is such a damaging tweet.
This is the loudest voice in the US government sharing actively problematic risk communication.
This is the loudest voice in the US government sharing actively problematic risk communication.
First, it signals to US citizens and hospitals that they have nothing to worry about ("very much under control").
Given what's happening in Italy and South Korea, POTUS should be socializing the idea that it may spread here; instead this does the opposite.
Given what's happening in Italy and South Korea, POTUS should be socializing the idea that it may spread here; instead this does the opposite.
This directly contradicts what CDC has said (albeit too tepidly) about the potential for community spread and the need for consider enhanced precautions.
If you're a hospital administrator weighing whether to trigger burdensome prep protocols, or a governor weighing whether to trigger additional public health measures, this sends a clear message: stand down. It reduces readiness.
Second, it makes it harder for CDC & HHS professionals to be honest about risk. As with Puerto Rico/Maria, POTUS has issued the party line: we are succeeding, countervailing info be damned.
And as we've seen with Sharpie-gate, there will be intense pressure within the bureaucracy to bring their assessments in line with Trump's public remarks, rather than vice-versa. The rhetoric will override the science. nytimes.com/2019/09/09/cli…
For a career professional, honesty about deteriorating conditions now means contradicting POTUS. Who wants to be the one to tell him when containment fails, as it likely will?
Third, it signals what Trump's main focus is: not how his government is protecting Americans' health, but avoiding a stock market hit that will politically damage him ("good to *me*").
That also sends a clear message to his team about how they should prioritize on this.
That also sends a clear message to his team about how they should prioritize on this.
All of this weakens the kind of rigorous, disciplined, well-informed response operation required in order to keep Americans safe.
(See also 👇)
(See also 👇)
A final thought - irresponsible leadership practice aside, this is also political malpractice. Given that Italy suddenly found the disease had been spreading undetected, that must be considered a real prospect here as well (especially given limited US testing).
If we suddenly find an Italy-type scenario of undetected transmission, the president's tweet will not age very well.
/end
/end
Addendum:
Wow, this has blown up. While you're here: don't despair, do prepare.
This outbreak can be managed, and damaging overreaction is as risky as damaging under-reaction.
Here's an overview of what governments should be doing to get ready:
This outbreak can be managed, and damaging overreaction is as risky as damaging under-reaction.
Here's an overview of what governments should be doing to get ready:
And here's a good CDC overview of steps to take at a household level and in your community: cdc.gov/nonpharmaceuti…
This is a useful resource as well:
