Coronavirus at the White House – American Patient Confusion – News

The President of the United States, who has Covid-19, is currently showing strength. Donald Trump happily tweets and caused a sensation Sunday with a walk. At the same time, over the weekend doubts arose about his constitution. Now it is said that Trump could return to the White House immediately. SRF correspondent Isabelle Jacobi on the conflicting information policy in Washington.

Isabelle jacobi

US Correspondent, SRF

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After studying in the United States and Bern, Jacobi worked for Radio SRF from 1999 to 2005. He then worked as a freelance journalist in New York. In 2008 she returned to SRF as a producer for Echo der Zeit, and in 2012 she became editor-in-chief. Jacobi has been a US correspondent in Washington since the summer of 2017.

SRF News: What is the latest information on the president’s health?

Isabelle Jacobi: The doctors in charge have not yet spoken. That is still expected. On Sunday we heard about aggressive treatment that is generally only used for severe cases of Covid. That gives rise to speculation. Several experts speak and doubt the optimistic message of the medical team and the White House.

Is there any reason to doubt the official information from the White House?

Speculation has been made possible because communication about Trump’s health was inconsistent. His personal physician was confused by the statements at the time of diagnosis and admitted Sunday that Trump had problems with his oxygen supply, but only after persistent inquiries from journalists.

How do you comment on Trump’s spray trip in Washington?

It all depends on which side you are listening to or which television channel you are watching. Fox News is happy that the president is doing so well that he can get out. CNN is outraged that Trump is breaking isolation rules and endangering the health of his employees. These are very alternative interpretations that have a political form.

First the illness was downplayed, then the message that the oxygen saturation in the president’s blood had dropped. Now, obviously, you can go home. Is there a strategy behind the communication?

I do not think so. It seems that at first they did not want to sound the alarm and covered up the truth. Then the White House chief of staff blurted out that Trump’s health was concerning. With that, the debacle ran its course. Of course, one can wonder if it was intended to generate publicity or if it was just a mistake.

Keep in mind that there has been great excitement and just plain fear in the White House since the diagnosis. Because many employees were also infected. The White House still doesn’t want to say how many. It was just announced that Trump’s press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tested positive.

When a president’s illness is minimized, there are sometimes security considerations behind it. Can you say that in this case too?

Maybe. In such cases, you don’t want to give the impression that the United States is experiencing a leadership vacuum. But that doesn’t mean the vice president is not preparing to take office. He’s probably doing that behind the scenes. But only: the White House and the doctors were caught playing down and now the speculation is running amok.

The president’s security adviser had to appear before the media and explain that the chain of command continues to function. It would have been better to focus on transparency from the beginning. The whole world now really knows that Covid-19 can be dangerous for an overweight 74-year-old man.

Interview by Roger Brändlin.