Trump just said the coronavirus “came out of nowhere.” Yes, the timing was unexpected. But last year the CDC and the WHO said a pandemic was “inevitable.” And Johns Hopkins said not a single country in the world, including the US, is ready for a pandemic. 1/4
Yet, Trump cut funding for response to pandemics and eliminated the staff dedicated to pandemic planning, including at the White House National Security Council. I have supported pandemic planning for the three previous administrations. 2/4
Each of them, both Democrat and Republican, took pandemic planning seriously. President Trump took the money for his wall. President Trump’s actions represent presidential malpractice. Now, he lies to the American people about the coronavirus daily. 3/4
Americans are facing uncertain and turbulent times ahead. They deserve scientific facts, not the spin and disinformation coming out of the White House. Response to pandemics is not about politics. It is about keeping the American people as safe as possible. 4/4
