Preparation: F
this includes both before 2020 and post-virus, especially the botched testing and largely nothing of use which occurred in Jan & Feb
Testing: F
the initial botched CDC test wasted precious weeks. Results have frequently been delayed beyond usefulness, both early on and recently. US was doing roughly half the testing necessary to identify and control the virus. Shortages of reagents and test kits.
PPE and Equipment: D
Shortages throughout. I upped the grade from an F, because field hospitals were readied in NYC, the navy hospital ships were brought in place (though misused initially and then not needed), and Trump did force/persuade companies to build ventilators (though belatedly). So this was mostly a disaster, with some effort to help. I think the story on masks and gloves is China got the all clear and started selling its medical products to the US.
Public Relations/Information: F -
Lying about the need for face masks.
Trump persistently downplaying the virus (which might go away any minute now!)
Touting unproven drugs.
Trump's daily stand-up routine/COVID info briefings (they weren't brief or informative)
Undermining the directive to wear masks. Disparaging masks.
Misinformation aplenty.
Organization: F-
Abandoning the federal role in disaster management and letting states fend for themselves and compete for necessary items.
Sidelining the CDC, disparaging WHO, Jared in charge (not really/maybe),
Undermining Fauci
Finally, Pence took over, but he keeps putting out bald-faced lies to support the admin's failures.
Overall Strategy: F
No Coordinated National Strategy -- that alone earns the Trump Admin an F.
A 2 month lockdown and $0.60 face masks were all that was needed.
I'm still not even sure what the Trump strategy is/was - hope it goes away(?)
But the numbers of infected and dead don't lie.
A huge secondary outbreak throughout the nation after NYC was contained.
Trump criticized lockdowns (which were mostly halfway measures and not strict enough), then called for early reopenings when guidelines weren't met and cases weren't down enough, now wants schools to reopen amidst a raging pandemic.
Almost anything useful or positive Trump did came way late.
Just poor decisions across the board, an immense failure to understand and effectively confront the epidemic, and a focus on reopening the economy and salvaging Trump's reelection over health and safety.
Poll
5 (45.5%)