U.S. President Donald Trump has been infected with the novel coronavirus. If his poor health condition continues and interferes with the management of his administration, the impact that would have on the United States and elsewhere would be immeasurable. It is hoped that he will recover from the infection as soon as possible.
Anyone can be infected with the coronavirus. Trump should not be criticized for the fact he was infected. However, it is inevitable to point out that Trump and other key figures at the center of his administration lack awareness of the situation surrounding the coronavirus, and their ability to respond to the crisis has been poor.
Trump, who is in a position to set an example for the public, has repeatedly made remarks that downplay wearing a mask. In the White House, even though staff members and others have been infected with the virus since May, rules such as maintaining social distance and wearing masks have not been thoroughly observed.
At a ceremony held at the White House on Sept. 26, many participants were seen densely packed together without masks. This can be said to symbolize the carelessness of the administration's infection countermeasures. Trump and others have been confirmed to be positive for the virus one after another, and it has been pointed out that there are growing coronavirus clusters in the White House.
It is an extremely serious situation that the infection has been spreading to a variety of people, such as senior government officials, senators and senior members of the Trump camp who are leading the campaign for the presidential election in November.
The United States has recorded the highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in the world. Trump has emphasized the responsibility of China, the first place in the world where the coronavirus pandemic was confirmed. On the other hand, he also said, without giving any evidence, that the spread of infection in the United States would be brought under control. This could weaken the persuasiveness of his criticism of China.
The top priority for the administration is to closely examine how the infection spread within the center of the administration and take thorough measures to prevent its recurrence. The approach must be reworked based on scientific evidence and expert advice.
If Trump's symptoms worsen and he is unable to carry out his duties as president, Vice President Mike Pence will act for him. It is worrisome that there are discrepancies among the explanations of Trump's condition given by his doctors and senior government officials, and information on his condition has been getting complicated.
The administration needs to create an environment in which Trump can concentrate on his treatment and explain his condition carefully and promptly. If authority is transferred to Pence, every possible effort should be made to prevent confusion in domestic and foreign policies.
The situation surrounding Trump's infection with the virus could affect the outcome of the presidential election.
Trump's method of showing off enthusiastic support for him at large rallies will have to be reviewed. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, has positioned measures against the infectious disease as the key point of contention in the campaign, and will step up his efforts to pursue the administration's responsibility.
There are concerns about escalating emotional conflicts between Trump's supporters and opponents. Above all, it is important to keep calm and conduct the election smoothly.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Oct. 6, 2020.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
