How Trump Almost Killed My Husband
More than five months later, more than 100,000 Americans are now recorded to have succumbed to the new coronavirus, an ugly breakthrough President Donald Trump once demonstrated the country would never witness. In her article, “How Donald Trump Almost Killed My Husband,” Rachel Dodes observes that now one could think that in less than four years after November 9, 2016, people would be hiding in their homes, horrified, fighting for their lives as the economy shut down and everything brought into a standstill. The author demonstrates Trump’s ineptitude to manage a crisis that has resulted in an unsurmountable catastrophe. This is explored through the lenses of her husband Josh, who contracted the novel coronavirus and how the President downplayed the pandemic.
The author chose the title for the article to demonstrate her frustrations with the Trump administration and how it has handled COVID-19. The author blames the President for misrepresenting facts and downplaying the virus. Her husband contracted COVID-19 a few weeks after Trump told the American population that only 15 people in the country had contracted the virus and assured them that with a few days, the number would reduce significantly to near zero. This, according to the author, might have given the wrong impression that the virus was contained, and no more confirmed cases would ensue. Since the Whitehouse is not a house of rumors, people might have believed the words of the President and perhaps ignored the laid down protocols by CDC, which exposed more population to the virus, including her husband. Thus, had the President handled the pandemic with the urgency and seriousness it deserves, her husband plus other community would not have contracted the virus.
Moreover, the author is blaming the President for the lack of preparedness, as demonstrated in the frustrations she underwent while trying to get screened for the deadly coronavirus. She observes that a week before her husband was hospitalized with corona-like symptoms, she tried to have both of them tested, but it was not possible. She further notes that the President had announced on March 7 that anyone willing and ready to get tested the service was available. But just like many things that President pronounces, it was a lie. What he implied in his statement was that anyone who was a celebrity went through a COVID-19 test, and the result turned positive. Thus, the author is expressing frustrations that had there been a high level of preparedness, they could have been tested on time and perhaps begin treatment, and the husband’s health would not have deteriorated to that extent.
Additionally, the author blames the President for the delay they experienced while striving to get tested for the coronavirus. She documents that the New York Statement Department of Health’s coronavirus hotline that to be eligible for testing, they should have had direct contact with another individual with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Though she had not had any direct contact with a positive confirmed case, she had been in direct contact with her husband, who now exhibited COVID-19 like symptoms. Moreover, she cites that they could have allowed Josh to get tested following his travel history to places where there had been confirmed cases of outbreaks. And even if the test was to be done, she could not get the result immediately because of The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. And during all these delays, she had started exhibiting COVID-19 like symptoms such as a lost sense of smell, low fever, and headache. He was having a capture while on a ventilator is what it took to have a timely test result. On March 23, she confirmed what she was already aware that her husband was COVID-19 positive. All these blames are shifted to the President because had there been appropriately laid down protocols, her husband would not have landed on a ventilator.
Moreover, the author is blaming the President by prioritizing the economy against the healthcare of the population. The President has alluded to opening up the economy several times while the level of infection and mortalities keeps rising. Reopening of the economy is not possible until there are extensive testing and quick results, and a national system to closely monitor the spread of the virus. A large population would not be comfortable going back to their regular routines. The author also observes that the President gaslights the population on his daily briefings, stating that no one is testing more than they are doing. No one has better, more sophisticated, more accurate tests than the US. But these are all lies. There is sufficient evidence that the capacity for testing is dropping instead of increasing.
In conclusion, the author blames the Trump administration for downplaying the pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives and others hospitalized in various healthcare facilities. Trump had declared that the COVID-19 epidemic was very much manageable in the county in February. A significant number of positive cases have been confirmed in the state, probably a gross irony owing to the continuous testing shortage.
Works Cited
Dodes, Rachel. “How Donald Trump Almost Killed My Husband.” VanityFair, April 22. 2020, www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/04/how-donald-trump-almost-killed-my-husband. Accessed June 4 2020.