When Sean Spicer took to the podium on day one of the Trump presidency, we knew that this administration would have a fractious relationship with the truth. His bold defence of Trump’s crowd size was laughable – the equivalent of comparing Woodstock to a moderately attended scouting jamboree. It epitomized a bifurcation of reality that has defined his entire tenure as ‘leader of the free world’- a moniker that has finally found a suitably hyperbolic recipient. But there are surely some issues that could cut through this poisonous political polarisation? Something disastrous, be it a global pandemic or Venom: Extended Cut.
While the world prays to avoid the latter, a global pandemic has somehow failed to curtail the media spin machine. Trump’s patently disastrous handling of the pandemic is being lambasted by both domestic and international media outlets. His pathological urge to lie and juvenile self-aggrandisement has, if anything, been emboldened by this time of global unease. Liberal media outlets report his shambolic performance with an ever-increasing sense of personal validation: surely the other side can see what he is now? But this is wishful thinking, as this period will ultimately do little but ossify his acolytes’ support. It’s not so much a case of acknowledging the emperor has no clothes, they simply love to bask in his nakedness.
It’s ironic that a self-confessed germaphobe like Trump would have such difficulty grasping the concept of an infectious outbreak. I would proffer that his aversion to contact is less informed by personal health issues than by elitist separatism. Lest we forget, this is the man whose recent medical reports place him just behind Doctor Manhattan in physical perfection. His narcissism imbues him with a sense of immortality that makes him woefully ill-prepared to grasp the magnitude of this outbreak. Social distancing is also a slightly foreign concept for Trump. Ever a tactile man, he thinks nothing of barging into changing rooms to accost underage beauty pageant contestants. So that’s Trump the man. Trump the President has rallied against the establishment since his election, inculcating a scepticism of established norms. Whether its legal opinions or climate change realities, Trump has fomented a deep underlying resistance to anything resembling expertise. And amazingly enough (considering the medical emergency we all face) that dogged paranoia has extended towards leading health professionals.
In a series of cutting edge studies conducted by economists Hunt Alcott and Matthew Gentzkow, cell phone location data was examined to establish regional social distancing trends. Accounting for variables such as population density, they were able to extrapolate that people in Republican strongholds were about 20% more likely to ignore social distancing cues. Republicans have internalised Trump’s irresponsible stance on the virus since day 1. Despite the fact that American deaths are now in excess of 50 000, there is still an overriding sense within Republican circles that Coronavirus has been fuelled by alarmist, left-wing agitators. Rush Limbaugh continues to spew forth the notion that the virus is virtually identical to seasonal flu. Trump’s economic bias is so blatantly obvious. He rejected the call for a nationwide federal lockdown, delegating that role to state governors. But then he cites ‘absolute authority’ in a desire to reopen the economy, despite the risk of further spread (he had to walk that back in gloriously chastening fashion). It’s amazing how comfortable Republicans have become with flagrant disregard for the constitution (except of course where tactical assault rifles are concerned).
The virus has disproportionately affected urban areas which are overwhelmingly democratic in composition. So perhaps this right-wing rebellion against federal guidelines is purely a rural phenomenon. But recent protests in Detroit prove otherwise. Just this week, cars descended on the state capital, selfishly flaunting social distancing guidelines in a plea to reopen the economy. Michigan sits behind only New York and New Jersey in Covid 19 deaths thus far. Trump’s mercenary prioritization of the economy over public health concerns- driven by his stock-market fetishism – has led to a dangerous us-vs-them attitude on the right. Trump’s politicization of Covid19 was demonstrated in a series of shamelessly ignorant tweets, calling for the ‘liberation’ of certain states from draconian enslavement. They just happened to be battleground states, currently held by Democrats, which are observing perfectly sensible lockdown protocols. The pervasive threat to the American economy can’t be understated, but a second outbreak and subsequent lockdown procedure would only exacerbate the crisis at hand. He is trying to start yet another culture war in the midst of this pandemic, pitting the tyrannical lefties against the defiant, self-determining right. Incidentally, a smattering of Confederate flags flew side-by-side the MAGA propaganda in Detroit, a stark reminder of the historical dangers of rugged individualism.
King Donald is not content with sabotaging his own domestic space, he’s gone worldwide baby. His decision to halt the funding of the World Health Organization this week stank of political brinkmanship. It fits into the broader Trumpian dogma of political isolationism: the W.H.O- like NATO- is part of the post-war international community that just seems far too chummy for Mr Trump. It more importantly allows him to deflect from his own incompetence and lay the blame solely at the feet of the W.H.O and Chinese. The W.H.O and Chinese have much to answer for, but now is not the time to go all Michael Corleone and settle vendettas. As Bill gates said, “Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds”. This decision will cost lives, as the virus threatens to explode in underdeveloped societies like India and sub-Saharan Africa. South Sudan currently possesses four ventilators throughout the entire country and is desperately dependent on the intervention of huge multilateral organizations. The pettiness of his post-impeachment political ‘hits’ are quaint compared to this global game of ‘I know you are but what am I?’
The depressing thing about his incompetence is that it will likely be rewarded. The global pandemic helps feed his isolationist platform, creating further momentum for walls and tariffs. He can cast the Chinese (who certainly have their share of blame) as the supervillains, utilizing the same race-baiting playbook that won him his election in the first place. The huge majority of likely deaths will occur in city centres where there is little political consequence. African Americans – who vote resoundingly Democratic – are dying at a much higher rate during this epidemic, exposing fundamental flaws in the health-care system. Silver lining Republican Party; there might be less need for gerrymandering come election time. Trump also has the advantage of dominating the media space. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden may be racking up endorsements, but limited airplay and the inability to canvas leaves Trump with carte blanche to define current political discourse.
During this sombre moment in human history, Trump revels in the ratings of his cartoonish press briefings, comparing them to season finales of The Bachelor. It goes to show that he is still little more than a reality TV huckster. But reality TV is big business. I’ve always understood his appeal as analogous to the WWE (where he was unsurprisingly once a guest star). The WWE is a grossly exaggerated alternative reality that operates on the most simplistic, base level. Its entertainment value masks its complete contrivance. It’s a shared lie that grows all the more powerful over time, until the truth of its artifice is all but eroded. Talking heads from the Brookings Institute and New York Times are all very well, but until we see Arizona farmers and Michigan steelworkers lambasting Trump, you can expect another four years of diminishing US leadership.
