The President Is Seriously Ill

When alleged Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson fell ill earlier this year after becoming infected with Covid-19, his spinners failed to level with the public: it was only after he was first taken to St Thomas’ Hospital, and then transferred to the intensive care unit, that it was conceded he was gravely ill. That tendency to dishonesty should be borne in mind when considering what is now unfolding in the USA.

There, Combover Crybaby Donald Trump has tested positive for the virus. His infamous Twitter feed fell silent yesterday, yet it was only when he was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD., that it came clear he was in a bad way.

Even before then, some had smelt a rat. Michael Moore mused “They claim Trump has only ‘mild symptoms.’ So why hasn’t he sent out a single tweet? … Something has to be very, very wrong for there to be no tweets for 15 hours - a record”. Glenn Kirshner of NBC News added “So Donald Trump has cancelled everything on his calendar, is sitting around w/a low grade fever & a fully charged cell phone & he hasn’t tweeted in 16 hours? I believe all this less by the minute”. Maggie Haberman of the New York Times brought the news.

“Via pool report, Trump is going to Walter Reed. Two sources familiar with the plan say he's expected to undergo tests”. Columnist Ian Bremmer responded “You don’t hospitalize the President only out of an ‘abundance of caution.’ He has world class medical care and they can get him to Walter Reed in a moment’s notice. This is a serious illness”.

Ana Cabrera of CNN found someone prepared to admit that. “A Trump adviser says there is reason for concern about Trump's health tonight. ‘This is serious,’ the source said. The source went on to describe Trump as very tired, very fatigued, and having some trouble breathing”. Orin Kerr noted “With the President's condition deteriorating, they decided Trump would go to Walter Reed now in part because he was still well enough for the photo op walking over to the helicopter, WaPo reports”. Trump wants to appear strong.

Meanwhile, the business of Government had to be considered. Chris Evans saw that “Nancy Pelosi has just been contacted by the White House on the protocols of continuity of government, according to MSNBC”. The urgency of such a move made sense after Nate Silver posted a photo with the observation “The vice president is seated next to a whole bunch of people who have tested positive and although he's tested negative, he's a long ways from being out of the incubation period”. Mike Pence could get it next.

All of which smacks of less than totally responsible behaviour by the Trump Gang. Not using face coverings, or distancing, especially at a White House event last weekend. Spencer Althouse of BuzzFeed noted of one of those at that event, “Claudia Conway just revealed on TikTok that her mom, Kellyanne Conway, has COVID: ‘She told me not to post this but I'm so furious please wear your masks guys’”. Ms Conway was there, and so was Trump’s Attorney General Bill Barr. He may also have become infected.

Tellingly, Dave Wasserman added a coda: “That Biden is delivering his entire speech in Grand Rapids with a mask on speaks volumes more than any remarks he's delivering, and he knows it”. That White House bash is already being called a superspreader event.

Trump and his pals ignored the Coronavirus. But the Coronavirus did not ignore them.

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