I suspect Trump probably does have the legal authority to establish and enforce quarantines. They ought not be arbitrary or capricious, but SCOTUS has upheld, refused to review or delayed some cases so long that Trump has been given a free hand in these cases.
Cont.
Cont.
2/ In context of a pandemic and generalized fear, w/1/2 the USA believing Trump is acting effectively, SCOTUS is unlikely to supplant Trump's judgments with its own on how to manage COVID_19.
The real limits on Trump's ability to quarantine are scientific and political. Cont.
The real limits on Trump's ability to quarantine are scientific and political. Cont.
3/ Trump has treated COVID_19 like a political problem and has politicized his responses and lack thereof.
Trump can't succeed w/quarantine, as Wuhan did, bc Trump has contempt for the science that could have made quarantine successful. So it'd rapidly and visibly fail.
Cont
Trump can't succeed w/quarantine, as Wuhan did, bc Trump has contempt for the science that could have made quarantine successful. So it'd rapidly and visibly fail.
Cont
4/ Trump's misguided response to COVID_19 has been an abysmal failure. Geographic spread of the virus proves it.
Every possible quarantine today (that'd appeal to Trump politically) would fail spectacularly in a few days, as proved by relentless, geographic contagion.
Cont
Every possible quarantine today (that'd appeal to Trump politically) would fail spectacularly in a few days, as proved by relentless, geographic contagion.
Cont
5/ Applicable laws and courts might bend to Trump's will, but the science and logic of COVID_19 contagion will not.
Trump attempts to impose draconian quarantines would invite examination of the underlying logic and science, which Trump has bungled at every turn.
Cont.
Trump attempts to impose draconian quarantines would invite examination of the underlying logic and science, which Trump has bungled at every turn.
Cont.
6/ Trump says medical response to COVID_19 is primarily a state responsibility, even as he heaps praise on himself for the federal response.
Once Trump quarantined a geographical area, he'd assume (failed) responsibility for management of contagion, there and elsewhere.
Cont.
Once Trump quarantined a geographical area, he'd assume (failed) responsibility for management of contagion, there and elsewhere.
Cont.
7/ Trump has sought to portray COVID_19 as a minor problem, well managed and rapidly disappearing.
Quarantining large areas by federal decree would be an admission that COVID_19's a *DIRE FEDERAL CRISIS* Trump minimized, misunderstood and mismanaged from the beginning.
Cont
Quarantining large areas by federal decree would be an admission that COVID_19's a *DIRE FEDERAL CRISIS* Trump minimized, misunderstood and mismanaged from the beginning.
Cont
8/ Trump is flailing. He can't decide whether to declare COVID_19 crisis over, hoping for the best (w/catastrophic consequences), or quarantine states bc COVID_19's a metastasizing natl crisis.
COVID will get dramatically worse by the day bc of Trump's *inherent* failures.
COVID will get dramatically worse by the day bc of Trump's *inherent* failures.
9/ The only certainly in Trump's #CODVID19 response is he will continue to view and prioritize all policy options on epidemiology and medical science through the lens of his own public image and reelection prospects.
So, he'll be predictably incoherent and bungle.
So, he'll be predictably incoherent and bungle.
