accused Joe Scarborough of murder?

Trump first tweeted the claim in 2017 about Lori Klausutis, who worked in Scarborough’s Fort Walton Beach congressional office. She was found dead in the office in 2001. Scarborough served in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001 as a Republican for the 1st district of Florida.

File:Lori Klausutis.png
Lori Klausutis

The coroner discovered an undiagnosed heart condition and reported that Klausutis passed out and hit her head as she fell. He said she was not struck by another person. Scarborough was in Washington, DC at the time of her death.

At the time of Trump’s comments, Scarborough was host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe alongside wife and co-host Mika Brzezinski, who was also personally targeted by Trump for “bleeding badly from a face-lift.”

Trump renewed attacks in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the time of the May 4 tweet, nearly 70,000 Americans had died of COVID-19. At the time of his May 12 tweet, it had reached over 80,000.

Scarborough responded on his show, in which he called the comments “extraordinarily cruel” and likened the claims to the Seth Rich conspiracy theories.

AP News – AP FACT CHECK: Scarborough staffer death not a “mystery”
Politifact – PolitiFact: Donald Trump’s Pants on Fire ‘unsolved mystery’ attack on Joe Scarborough
Politico – Trump promotes conspiracy theory accusing MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough of murder
The Hill – Trump raises conspiracy theory to attack MSNBC’s Scarborough
Wikipedia – Joe Scarborough
Worldometer – Coronavirus, United States

attacked Obama over his handling of Ebola?

For four months, Trump railed against Obama’s handling of Ebola during the 2014 crisis. Trump demanded that all travel from Western Africa be immediately halted, promising that the crisis will “ONLY GET WORSE.” Saying that the government’s handling of the crisis was “almost like he’s saying F-you to U.S. public,” he warned about how “All the governors are already backing off of the Ebola quarantines.”

There were 11 total American cases of Ebola, resulting in 2 deaths. Neither of those who died contracted Ebola from within the United States. The CDC announced the first diagnosis September 30, 2014, and the last infected person was released from the hospital November 11.

Ebola outbreak in the United States / Wikipedia

During his Presidency, Trump repeatedly downplayed the severity of COVID-19. His administration implemented limited travel bans that only extended to non-US citizens and residents, failed to implement travel checks and tracing for the disease, and continually pushed for states to reopen their economies. Trump claimed he had total authority over governors to make policy in their states.

Fox News also drew attention for the discrepancy between their reporting on the handling of Ebola under Obama and COVID-19 under Trump.

An incomplete list of Trump’s tweets about Obama’s handling of Ebola follows:

Wikipedia – Ebola virus cases in the United States
Trump Twitter Archive

proposed using UV light and disinfectant to combat COVID-19 in patients?

During an April 23 press conference, Trump suggested investigating if light, whether ultraviolet or “just very powerful light,” and injecting disinfectant, may be remedies to COVID-19.

So I asked Bill a question some of you are thinking of if you’re into that world, which I find to be pretty interesting. So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether its ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and I think you said, that hasn’t been checked but you’re gonna test it. And then I said, supposing it brought the light inside the body, which you can either do either through the skin or some other way, and I think you said you’re gonna test that too, sounds interesting.

 

And I then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute, and is there a way you can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it’d be interesting to check that. So you’re going to have to use medical doctors, but it sounds interesting to me, so we’ll see. But the whole concept of the light, the way it goes in one minute, that’s pretty powerful.

Dr. Deborah Birx, Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the White House COVID-19 task force, was on camera during the remarks.

The FDA and makers of Lysol issued statements warning against ingesting disinfectants. Trump previously promoted unproven drug treatments and continually dismissed COVID-19 concerns.

At the time of his remarks, the United States had over 860,000 cases and 50,000 deaths.

Trump later claimed that his remarks were sarcastic:

I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen.

Multiple reports followed of people ingesting bleach and other chemicals to combat the virus. The Republican Governor of Maryland and Democratic Governor of Michigan noted that they’d received hundreds of calls asking about whether it was safe to do so, though Trump said he couldn’t imagine why.

The New York Times – Makers of Lysol Warn Against Ingesting Disinfectants
CNN – Don’t eat or inject yourself with disinfectant, warns FDA commissioner
The Hill – Trump says remarks about heat, light, disinfectant were sarcastic
CBS 46 – Georgia men reportedly drink bleach, Pine-sol and more to prevent Covid-19
The Hill – Calls to poison control centers spike after Trump disinfectant comments

COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU)

dismissed COVID-19 across another month? (timeline pt. 2)

As the COVID-19 pandemic began, Trump went from “It’s going to be just fine” to “I’ve felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic” in 56 days. As with that first timeline, COVID-19 case numbers for this post are taken from https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/, and there may be a lag between Trump’s statements and the day’s reported numbers.

Mar. 18 – 10,091 total US cases, 171 deaths.

It’s not racist at all. No. Not at all. It comes from China. That’s why. It comes from China. I want to be accurate.

Mar. 19 – 14,896 cases, 240 deaths. Trump promotes unproven drug treatments, falsely claiming that it has been approved by the FDA for COVID-19.

And we’re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately, and that’s where the FDA has been so great. They – they’ve gone through the approval process. It’s been approved.

Mar. 20 – 20,873 cases, 310 deaths. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo orders all non-essential businesses to keep their workers home. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issues a “stay-at-home” order. Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, and others follow.

Mar. 21 – 25,969 cases, 376 deaths.

Mar. 22 – 33,745 cases, 512 deaths.

Mar. 23 – 46,433 cases, 693 deaths.

You look at automobile accidents, which are far greater than any numbers we’re talking about. That doesn’t mean we’re going to tell everybody no more driving of cars. So we have to do things to get our country open.

Mar. 24 – 58,021 cases, 962 deaths.

Ultimately the goal is to ease the guidelines…Easter is our timeline, what a great timeline that would be.

Mar. 25 – 71,638 cases, 1,269 deaths. 3.3 million Americans file for unemployment.

Mar. 26 – 89,513 cases, 1,629 deaths. The United States now leads the world in confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Our country has to go back. Our country is based on that. And I think it’s going to happen pretty quickly. A lot of progress is made, but we’ve got to get back to work.

Mar. 27 – 108,537 cases, 2,131 deaths.

You call it a germ, you can call it a flu, you can call it a virus. You know, you can call it many different names. I’m not sure anybody even knows what it is.

Mar. 28 – 127,827 cases, 2,781 deaths.

Mar. 29 – 147,921 cases, 3,283 deaths. Trump brags about TV ratings.

Mar. 30 – 171,640 cases, 3,150 deaths. American deaths from COVID-19 surpass 9/11.

Apr. 1 – 224,651 cases, 6,465 deaths.

Did you know I was number one on Facebook?

Apr. 2 – 255,276 cases, 7,676 deaths. Global cases reaches 1 million. Another 6.6 million Americans file for unemployment.

Apr. 4 – 322,790 cases, 10,537 deaths. More American deaths than those from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) combined.

I may take [hydroxychloroquine]. I’ll have to ask my doctors about that. But I may take it.

Maybe we could allow special, for churches, maybe we could talk about it. Maybe we could allow them, with great separation outside, on Easter Sunday. I don’t know, it’s something we should talk about.

Apr. 6 – 381,262 cases, 13,488 deaths. Trump interjects during a question for Dr. Fauci about hydroxychloroquine.

I answered this 15 times. You don’t have to answer.

Apr. 7 – 415,992 cases, 15,755 deaths. Trump echoes past claims of fraud with mail-in voting.

Mail-in voting is horrible, it’s corrupt…sure I could vote by mail, because I’m allowed to.

Trump falsely claims in a Hannity interview that the US is not experiencing a shortage of beds and ventilators.

The good thing is that the number of beds needed, I think we were right about that. I was right. My group was right.

I just saw on your show and a couple of other people just reported back to me that everyone is in great shape from the standpoint of ventilators, which are very hard, because they’re expensive and they’re big and like — it’s, you know — it’s — and they’re very high-tech.

Apr. 8 – 448,806 cases, 17,966 deaths. Trump threatens to halt WHO funding.

They really called every aspect of it wrong…recently social media said they seem to be very China-centric.

Apr. 9 – 482,724 cases, 20,113 deaths. An additional 6.6 million Americans file for unemployment. The Federal Reserve announces a stimulus of $2,300,000,000,000 ($2.3 trillion).

Apr. 10 – 517,010 cases, 22,394 deaths. Trump administration limits COVID-19 reporting requirements to healthcare industry employers.

This is a very brilliant enemy. You know, it’s a brilliant enemy. They develop drugs like the antibiotics. You see it. Antibiotics used to solve every problem. Now one of the biggest problems the world has is the germ has gotten so brilliant that the antibiotic can’t keep up with it… We’re fighting – not only is it hidden, but it’s very smart, okay? It’s invisible and it’s hidden, but it’s – it’s very smart.

Apr. 11 – 546,923 cases, 24,460 deaths. The United States now leads the world in COVID-19 deaths. Reports surface of Trump asking Dr. Fauci, “Why don’t we let this wash over the country?”

Apr. 12 – 573,092 cases, 26,215 deaths.

Apr. 13 – 600,825 cases, 27,963 deaths. Trump plays video in White House briefing room titled “The media minimized the risk from the start.” He claims total authority over state governors.

Well I have the ultimate authority. President of the United States has the authority to do what the President has the authority to do, which is very powerful.

Trump spars with a reporter over a gap in actions taken February.

You’re so disgraceful. It’s so disgraceful the way you say that…nobody thought we should do it, and when I did it, you know what we did? You know what we did? What do you do when you have no case in the whole United States…zero cases zero deaths on January 17. …we did a lot. Look, look, you know you’re a fake, you know that, your whole network is fake.

Apr. 14 – 629,827 cases, 30,592 deaths. Trump halts US funding to the WHO.

Apr. 16 – 691,619 cases, 35,537 deaths. Another 5.2 million Americans file for unemployment, totaling approximately 22 million. Trump declines to speak out against protests in Michigan and other states against closures and social distancing.

There’s death and there’s problems in staying at home, too. It’s not just isn’t it wonderful to stay at home. They’re having – they’re suffering. This country wasn’t built on that principle, it was built on an exact opposite principle, actually. And I watched in one particular state where they were, they want to get back, the want to get back… I think they listen to me, they seem to be protesters that like me, and respect this opinion, and my opinion is the same as all the governors. They all want to open.

Apr. 17 – 724,900 cases, 38,134 deaths. Trump tweets in response to reports of protests against state closures, even citing the 2nd Amendment, though he has suggested taking guns without due process.

The timeline is continued here.

Worldometer – Coronavirus, United States
Politico – Trump on ‘Chinese virus’ label: ‘It’s not racist at all’
AP News – AP FACT CHECK: Trump falsely claims drug approval for virus
Whitehouse.gov – Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing
Politifact – Timeline: How Donald Trump responded to the coronavirus pandemic
NPR – 3.3 Million File Unemployment Claims, Shattering Records
Politico – Trump triggers Defense Production Act for the first time
USA Today – Another 6.6M Americans file for unemployment benefits as layoffs show no letup
Department of Defense – CASUALTY STATUS as of 10 a.m. EDT April 13, 2020
The New York Times – President Trump’s Prime-Time Pandemic
The Wall Street Journal – U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Passes Italy, Becoming World’s Highest
CNN – The 24 most wildly irresponsible lines from Donald Trump’s latest interview with Sean Hannity
Forbes – The Fed Will Pump Another $2.3 Trillion Into The Economy. Here’s Why This Time Is Different
Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The Washington Post – Trump administration has many task forces — but still no plan for beating covid-19
Politico – Trump halts funding to World Health Organization
Fortune – 22 million have lost their jobs over the past month—real unemployment rate likely nearing 18%
Business Insider – Fox News host defended anti-lockdown protesters carrying Confederate flags and falsely accused Michigan’s governor of calling them Nazis

limited COVID-19 reporting requirements to the healthcare industry?

On April 10, Trump’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) changed its COVID-19 reporting requirements to include only those in the healthcare industry. The loosening of requirements are not to apply if:

(1) There is objective evidence that a COVID-19 case may be work-related; and (2) the evidence was reasonably available to the employer.”

The OSHA statement explains that this is to allow employers to focus on prevention rather than making “difficult work-related decisions” amid community transmission:

This enforcement policy will help employers focus their response efforts on implementing good hygiene practices in their workplaces, and otherwise mitigating COVID-19’s effects, rather than on making difficult work-relatedness decisions in circumstances where there is community transmission.

David Michaels, epidemiologist and public health professor at The George Washington University who served as head of OSHA between 2009 and 2017, shared his disbelief on Twitter.

Jordan Barab, former OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary between 2009 and 2017, also criticized the decision. Barab noted that the eased restrictions removes responsibility from employers on determining and managing COVID-19 infections, potentially jeopardizing worker’s compensation claims.

On the day of the announcement, the United States had a total of over 500,000 cases and 18,000 deaths.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
USA Today – ‘Shocking and disheartening’: OSHA faces criticism for failing to protect workers amid the coronavirus
Wikipedia – David Michaels (epidemiologist)
LinkedIn – Jordan Barab 
Wikipedia – Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Worldometer – Coronavirus, United States

said he had “total authority”?

Trump made the remark about the re-opening of US states amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contrary to what individual governors may mandate for their states, Trump said,

Well I have the ultimate authority. President of the United States has the authority to do what the President has the authority to do, which is very powerful. The President of the United States calls the shots…

When pressed about how constitutionally, it is not in the purview of the federal government to dictate such matters to states, and whether he had addressed such matters with governors, Trump said,

I haven’t asked them about it. You know why? because I don’t have to.

When asked to elaborate, Trump replied,

When somebody is the President of the United States, the authority is total. And that’s the way that it’s got to be. It’s total. It’s total…but the authority of the president of the United States having to do with the subject we’re talking about is total…You can look at constitutionally, you can look at federalism…we have the power. Does the federal government have the power? The federal government has absolute power. It has the power.

On the day of the press conference, the United States had over 580,000 cases and 23,000 deaths from COVID-19.

Trump also previously claimed that Article II of the Constitution allows him to “do whatever I want.”

The Washington Post – Trump says his ‘authority is total.’ Constitutional experts have ‘no idea’ where he got that.
Time – Governors Refute Trump’s Claim He Has ‘Total’ Authority on Easing COVID-19 Restrictions
BBC News – Coronavirus: Trump claims ‘total’ authority to lift lockdown
COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU)

dismissed COVID-19 across two months? (timeline pt. 1)

The timeline below includes Trump’s remarks alongside US cases and other major events. COVID-19 case numbers for this post are taken from https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/, and there may be a lag between Trump’s statements and the day’s reported numbers.

Dec. 31 – World Health Organization first alerted to the existence of a new respiratory virus in China.

Jan. 3CDC Director Robert Redfield receives a call from a counterpart in China warning of COVID-19.

Jan. 5 – WHO publishes first Disease Outbreak News for COVID-19.

Jan. 8 – CDC issues first travel advisory, “alerting clinicians on January 8, 2020, to be on the look-out for patients with respiratory symptoms and a history of travel to Wuhan, China.”

Jan. 9 – Trump holds Ohio rally.

Jan. 12 – China shares genetic sequence of COVID-19.

Jan. 14 – WHO says evidence of human-to-human transmission is inconclusive. Trump holds Wisconsin rally.

Jan. 18 – Trump receives a briefing from Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who said the President viewed him as “alarmist.” The briefing was by phone, as Trump was at Mar-a-Lago golfing for the weekend.

Jan. 19 – Trump golfs.

Jan. 21 – First reported case in the United States.

Jan. 22 – 1 case. WHO declares evidence of person to person transmission.

“We have it totally under control. … It’s going to be just fine.”

Jan. 23 – WHO issues global advisory.

WHO’s risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally…We know that there is human-to-human transmission in China, but for now it appears limited to family groups and health workers caring for infected patients. At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Jan. 24 – 2 cases.

Jan. 28 – Trump holds New Jersey rally.

Jan. 30 – 7 cases. First person-to-person transmission confirmed by CDC, indicating COVID-19 had been freely spreading for several days, possibly weeks. Trump holds Iowa rally.

“We think we have it very well under control. We have very little problem in this country at this moment — five. And those people are all recuperating successfully. But we’re working very closely with China and other countries, and we think it’s going to have a very good ending for it. So that I can assure you.”

Jan. 31 – 8 cases. China travel ban issued; US citizens and legal residents are exempt. HHS Secretary Azar declares public health crisis. There are 11,950 confirmed cases worldwide, 156 of which are outside of China spanning 19 nations.

Feb 1. – 8 cases. Trump golfs.

Feb 2. – 11 cases. China travel ban goes into effect.

Well, we pretty much shut it down coming in from China. We have a tremendous relationship with China, which is a very positive thing.

Feb. 5 – 11 cases. Trump’s impeachment trial ends as the Senate votes not to convict.

Feb. 7 – 11 cases. In tapes revealed in September 2020, Trump tells Bob Woodward about the severity of the virus.

It goes through air, Bob. That’s always tougher than the touch. The touch, you don’t have to touch things, right? But the air, you just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed. And so that’s a very tricky one. That’s a very delicate one. It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flus…This is more deadly. This is 5% versus 1%, and less than 1%. So this is deadly stuff.

Feb. 10 – 12 cases. Trump holds New Hampshire rally.

Now, the virus that we’re talking about having to do — you know, a lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat — as the heat comes in. Typically, that will go away in April. We’re in great shape though.

The virus, they’re working hardLooks like by Aprilyou know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.

Feb. 15 – 15 cases. Trump golfs.

Feb. 19 – 15 cases. Trump holds Arizona rally.

Feb. 20 – 15 cases. Trump holds Colorado rally.

Feb. 21 – 35 cases. Trump holds Nevada rally.

Feb. 24 – 53 cases. “CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart,” Trump will halt funding to the World Health Organization within two months.

Feb. 25 – 57 cases.

Feb. 26 – 60 cases. Pence appointed leader of COVID-19 task force.

And again, when you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done.

Feb. 27 – 60 cases.

Feb. 28 – 63 cases. Trump holds South Carolina rally.

Now the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus…they are politicizing it. We did one of the great jobs, you see…this is their new hoax.

35,000 people on average die each year from the flu. Did anyone know that? 35,000, that’s a lot of people. It could go to 100,000, it could be 27,000. They say usually a minimum of 27, goes up to 100,000 people a year die. And so far we have lost nobody to coronavirus in the United States. Nobody. And it doesn’t mean we won’t and we are totally prepared. It doesn’t mean we won’t, but think of it. You hear 35 and 40,000 people and we’ve lost nobody and you wonder the press is in hysteria mode.

It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.

Feb. 29 – 68 cases. First American death.

I’ve gotten to know these professionals. They’re incredible. And everything is under control. I mean, they’re very, very cool. They’ve done it, and they’ve done it well. Everything is really under control.

Mar. 2 – 100 cases, 6 deaths.

We had a great meeting today with a lot of the great companies and they’re going to have vaccines, I think relatively soon.

Mar. 5 – 221 cases, 12 deaths.

Mar. 6 – 319 cases, 15 deaths. Global cases surpass 100,000. Trump signs $8.3 billion funding bill for research.

Anybody that needs a test, gets a test. They’re there. They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful.

No, I’m not concerned at all. No, we’ve done a great job with it.

[Holding rallies] doesn’t bother me at all and it doesn’t bother them at all.

It’s an unforeseen problem, what a problem, came out of nowhere, but we’re taking care of it.

Mar. 7 – 435 cases, 19 deaths. Trump golfs.

Mar. 8 – 541 cases, 22 deaths. Trump golfs.

Mar. 9 – 704 cases, 26 deaths.

Mar. 10 – 994 cases, 30 deaths.

We’re doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.

Mar. 11 – 1,301 cases, 38 deaths. WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Trump extends travel ban to most of Europe. The bans still do not apply to US citizens and legal residents.

Our team is the best anywhere in the world…and taking early intense action, we have seen dramatically fewer cases of the virus in the United States than are now present in Europe.

Mar. 13 – 2,284 cases, 48 deaths. Trump declares a national emergency.

I don’t take responsibility at all…

Mar. 14 – 2,931 cases, 58 deaths. First widespread screenings at airports leads to mass confusion and several-hour wait times in crowded terminals.

Mar. 16 – 4,925 cases, 95 deaths. Trump rates his handling a 10/10, echoing his self-rating on the handling of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

I’d rate [our response] a 10.

Mar. 17 – 6,905 cases, 121 deaths.

I’ve felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic.

The timeline of events is continued here.

Worldometer – Coronavirus, United States
The Business Insider – Trump reportedly dismissed January coronavirus warnings from Health Secretary Alex Azar as ‘alarmist’
CDC – First Travel-related Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Detected in United States
World Health Organization – Novel Coronavirus(2019-nCoV) Situation Report – 11, as of 31 January 2020
Axios – CDC confirms first U.S. person-to-person coronavirus transmission
The New York Times – Airports Reel as New Coronavirus Screening Goes into Effect
World Health Organization – WHO Timeline – COVID-19
Factcheck.org – Trump’s Statements About the Coronavirus
Politifact – ‘It’s going to disappear’: Trump’s changing tone on coronavirus
Snopes – Did Trump Golf, Hold Rallies After Learning About COVID-19 Threat?
World Health Organization – WHO Director-General’s statement on the advice of the IHR Emergency Committee on Novel Coronavirus

The Washington Post – The U.S. was beset by denial and dysfunction as the coronavirus raged
The New York Times – A Timeline of the Coronavirus Pandemic

 

fired the Intelligence Community Inspector General for passing on the Ukraine whistleblower complaint?

Michael Atkinson, who had served as the intelligence community inspector general since May 2018, was the first to alert Congress last year of an “urgent” whistleblower complaint. The complaint was about Trump’s attempt to solicit foreign aid in the 2020 election by withholding military aid from Ukraine in exchange for dirt on Joe Biden. The complaint was submitted by a CIA official assigned to the White House under the provisions of the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act, making it a lawful disclosure. Atkinson, upon further investigation, found the claim to be credible and urgent, submitting it to the Direct of National Intelligence. In this way, Atkinson served merely to determine if any further investigation was needed, acting as a messenger.

Trump was ultimately impeached for the ensuing findings. He referred to the impeachment as a lynching. He also lied about the Ukranian President having exonerated him. After impeachment, Trump was acquitted by the Senate, which requires 67 votes to convict. The only Senator to break party lines was Republican Mitt Romney. Trump made a teasing remark upon discovering he was in isolation for COVID-19.

Trump directly stated that his firing of Atkinson’s firing amid the COVID-19 pandemic was reprisal for the “fake report.”

The New York Times – Trump Pressed Ukraine’s Leader on Inquiry Into Biden’s Son
Reuters – Trump fires intelligence official involved in his impeachment probe
The Hill – Trump fires intelligence community watchdog who flagged Ukraine whistleblower complaint

said, “it’s not like we have a massive recession or worse” during a pandemic and record unemployment?

Trump made the remark during a press conference about the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the 10 million unemployment claims across the preceding two weeks, Trump claimed that the economic side of the crisis was “artificial” because of forced business closures.

The day of his remark, the United States reported a total of over 278,000 cases and 7,000 deaths.

The week prior, Trump bragged about his press conferences’ TV ratings.

Washington Post – Over 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in March as economy collapsed
Politico – ’No words for this’: 10 million workers file jobless claims in just two weeks
Fox Business – Unemployment claims spiked to new record last week, with 6.6M Americans filing for aid
Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU)

refused to allow a special enrollment period for health insurance amid the COVID-19 pandemic?

As the United States surpassed over 200,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 5,000 deaths, Trump declined to reopen the federal health care exchange at Healthcare.gov for a special enrollment period.

While free testing for COVID-19 has been authorized, there are no provisions or support for Americans without healthcare that require further treatment.

As of 2018, over 28,000,000 Americans were uninsured.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that he is responsible for saving provisions for pre-existing conditions. However, there is an ongoing lawsuit by Republican states to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which instituted the provisions.

A few days prior to the decision on opening enrollment, Trump tweeted to brag about his television ratings.

US Census Bureau – Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2018
Politico – Trump rejects Obamacare special enrollment period amid pandemic
Business Insider – Trump is refusing to reopen the Obamacare exchanges to help millions of uninsured Americans get coverage during the coronavirus pandemic
Vanity Fair – Americans Can’t Sign Up for Health Insurance During a Global Pandemic, Trump Decides
Politico – Supreme Court will hear major challenge to Obamacare
Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU)

More assuredly to come soon

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