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Donald Trump’s advisers hoped to turn the crown crisis into an election winner.
Under the plan, the president would return from the hospital a little more humble and more understanding of the suffering that Covid-19 has caused people, writes the New York Times.
– I feel better than in 20 years, was the answer in the video that sabotaged the strategy.
Corona’s outburst in the White House has been a nightmare for Donald Trump’s staff. When the infection reached the president, who after a night of high fever on Friday made doctors decide to transport to the hospital, the crisis entered a new stage.
But at the same time, there was hope among his closest associates in the reelection campaign that he could turn chaos into something that would save the election for Republicans, writes the New York Times.
Given that Trump had previously received massive criticism for his handling of the pandemic, the fact that he himself was affected by the virus was thought to provide an opportunity to show it from a more humane side.
Turn the electoral winds
As the pandemic has not left the United States behind, Democratic candidate Joe Biden has had a headwind in public opinion. He has always said that you have to listen to the science, follow the advice of the experts to reduce the infection and, above all, stay isolated in the basement of the house.
If Donald Trump quickly recovers from the disease and then returns a little more humble and understanding to the millions of Americans affected by COVID-19, it could turn the tide.
The plan was for him to convey his feelings for having experienced the disease up close, show a new and sharper approach to fighting the pandemic, and use the experience until the next planned debate against Joe Biden on October 15.
Trump would show that the disease is serious, causes suffering but can be overcome.
The strategy went downhill quickly
From the president’s advisers the New York Times spoke to, it was clear that Trump is a person who has a hard time conveying empathy to others, but was still hoping to see the political payoff.
It all started well. The president responded quickly to the treatment of the medical team. By Saturday he had no fever, felt alert, and was awake and active.
On Saturday, he tweeted a video where he sounded hoarse, said he hadn’t felt so well on Friday, and praised the doctors who treated him.
But then the strategy quickly went downhill. A publicity stunt in which the president allowed himself to pass in front of his followers was quickly criticized for endangering the car’s bodyguards. This gave new fuel to opponents who claim that it takes the coronavirus too lightly and acts irresponsibly.
Recorded a new video
Then the plans were completely sabotaged during a chaotic Monday when Donald Trump first tweeted that people should not be afraid of covid-19 and not let the disease dominate their lives, then he led a return to the White House and ended up recording a video where he gave a completely different message than what the advisers expected.
– I have learned a lot about the coronavirus. And one thing is for sure: don’t let it dominate you, don’t be afraid of it, the president said.
– Two days ago, I could have left two days ago. I felt great, better than for a long time, he said, adding that he feels better than in 20 years.
Donald Trump also defended that he did not practice maintaining a physical distance before becoming infected with the virus, because that is how a leader should act.
– I know there was a risk, a danger, but it’s okay and now I’m better. And maybe I’m immune, I don’t know, he said.
I should have listened to Boris
He said nothing about his co-workers who were infected or expressed sympathy for Americans who are sick with the virus or have a family member who has died from the disease.
A new storm of criticism followed.
– It seems that the campaign has not discussed the strategy with its candidate. You’d expect someone who’s been in a serious health crisis to have something of an awakening, find some religion in this, but he seems incapable of doing so, Brendan Buck, a former adviser to former Republican President Paul Ryan, tells The New York Times.
Republican strategist Antonia Ferrier tells the newspaper that Trump should have been impressed, for example, by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who personally described his experiences with the disease and spoke about the challenges of fighting the virus.
– President Trump has the opportunity to convey a similar positive message, he says.
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