Majority of Americans Disapprove of Trump’s Handling of COVID-19, Still See Virus as a Threat
Former GOP Sen. William Cohen: Americans Should Be “Afraid” of COVID-19 and Trump
Former Pence Aide: Trump Is “A Walking Contagion”
Following President Trump’s reckless decision to check himself out of Walter Reed and return to the White House where he will no doubt continue to infect others, Republicans are speaking out about President Trump’s dangerous antics while Americans affirm the ongoing threat of the virus.
Polling Shows Americans Agree That Virus Remains a Threat, Criticize Trump’s Claim That Americans Not Be Afraid of Virus
- A Morning Consult Poll Showed That Sixty Percent Of Voters Think Trump Is Wrong To Tell Americans Not To Be Afraid Of COVID-19. “Most voters say Trump is wrong to tell Americans not to be afraid of COVID-19: After seeing his post on Twitter, 60 percent of voters — including most independents, suburbanites and women — said Trump was wrong, while 28 percent said he was right.” [Morning Consult, 10/6/20]
- A CNN Poll Conducted By SSRS Showed That Sixty-Nine Percent Of Americans Trusted Little Of What They Heard From The White House About The President’s Health, While Sixty Percent Disapproved Of Trump’s Handling Of The Coronavirus. “Two-thirds of Americans say President Donald Trump handled the risk of coronavirus infection to others around him irresponsibly, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS in the days following the announcement that the President had contracted the virus that has disrupted everyday life for millions of people for more than half a year. With Trump hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 69% of Americans said they trusted little of what they heard from the White House about the President’s health, with only 12% saying they trusted almost all of it. Disapproval of the President’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak stands at a new high in the survey, with 60% saying they disapprove. Additionally, 63% say his own infection is unlikely to change anything about the way that he handles the pandemic.” [CNN, 10/5/20]
Prominent Former Republican Questions Dangerous Discharge From Walter Reed
- Former Sen. William Cohen (R-ME): “I Think We Have To Be Afraid… Of The COVID, But Also Afraid Of [Trump].” Cohen told CNN: “When I look at what has happened on this battlefield, the notion that he would have a commander in chief suffer as many as 200,000 deaths in this country and not be relieved of his command is really quite astonishing. And the fact is that you had Bob Woodward on earlier this evening, this afternoon. And I go back to the Nixon days and Watergate days when the question was, what did you know, when did you know it. And the answer is I knew everything from the beginning and he did nothing to put together a strategic plan in which to keep American people safe. And he has gone out of his way to brag about not having to wear a mask, don’t be afraid. I think we have to be afraid, very afraid of the COVID, but also afraid of him.” [CNN, “The Situation Room,” 10/6/20]
Conservative Aides and Commentators Highlight the Dangers of Trump’s Recklessness
- Former Advisor To Vice President Pence Olivia Troye: Trump Is “A Walking Contagion.” “Sir-with all due respect-I hope not. You’re a walking contagion. You’ll kill more people you don’t care about. Those people have loved ones who DO care about them. Please grant compassionate use of the option to quarantine yourself on behalf of all Americans. -Former WH staffer.” [Twitter, @OliviaTroye, 10/5/20]
- Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer: “He Can’t Break Quarantine, Or Do Things That The Rest Of Us Aren’t Supposed To Do If We Get COVID.” “I hope Pres. Trump remains at Walter Reed as long as medically necessary and doesn’t return to the WH, thinking he looks weak staying at a hospital. When you’re POTUS, being responsible is more important than any other consideration. Don’t rush home. Stay as long as necessary. If he does return to the WH, he will be tempted to go to the Oval. He can’t do that. He can’t break quarantine, or do things that the rest of us aren’t supposed to do if we get COVID. How he handles himself is a metaphor for how he handles the nation. The WH must realize that.” [Twitter, @AriFleischer, 10/5/20]
- Conservative Commentator Bill Kristol “My First Thoughts Go To Those Who Were Not Irresponsibly Reckless.” “Reading the good wishes to Trump, and to senior WH staffers who’ve enabled him, I want to say this: I wish everyone suffering from COVID, or from other diseases, well. But my first thoughts go to those who were not irresponsibly reckless and who did not knowingly endanger others.” [Twitter, @BillKristol, 10/6/20]
Current GOP Officials Reaffirm Risk of Virus
- Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas): “I Think He Got Out Over His Skis And Frankly, I Think It’s A Lesson To All Of Us That We Need To Exercise Self Discipline.” “Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Monday that President Trump ‘let his guard down’ on the coronavirus, in some of the toughest comments yet from a GOP lawmaker about the president’s handling of the virus after Trump announced his positive test late Thursday night. ‘I think he let his guard down, and I think in his desire to try to demonstrate that we are somehow coming out of this and that the danger is not still with us — I think he got out over his skis and frankly, I think it’s a lesson to all of us that we need to exercise self discipline,’ Cornyn told the Houston Chronicle editorial board.” [The Hill, 10/5/20]
- Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: “We All Need To Remain Vigilant. We All Need To Remain Careful.” “‘The standard cliche would say these past few days have provided a stark reminder of the danger of this terrible virus. But the truth is that our nation did not need any such reminder,’ [Mitch]McConnell said on the Senate floor. ‘More than 209,000 of our fellow citizens have lost their lives. Millions have battled illness or had their lives disrupted by positive tests. . . . We all need to remain vigilant. We all need to remain careful.’” [Washington Post, 10/5/20]
- Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX): “Covid-19 Has Always Been A Real Threat…. We Must Wear Masks & Take Precautions.” “I wish the President, First Lady and all Americans battling Covid-19 well and a speedy recovery. Covid-19 has always been a real threat to lives everywhere. We must wear masks & take precautions. Thankfully America has the best and the brightest providing medical care.” [Twitter, @HurdOnTheHill, 10/6/20]