Trump's positive Covid test was a surprise many saw as coming

 

Trump's positive Covid test was a surprise many saw as coming
The president has been arrogant throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Now, a month before the election

It will likely be considered the biggest "October surprise" in US presidential election history. However, anyone who was attentive could see that coming.

Donald Trump tested positive for the Corona virus after he claimed that it would "disappear", and told journalist Bob Woodward that he deliberately underestimated this, failed to develop a national testing strategy, refused to wear face masks for several months, and put forward the idea of ​​injecting patients. Bleaching, insisting at one of his many crowded rallies that it "affects almost no one", and in a debate on Tuesday, mocked his rival Joe Biden: "He could speak 200 feet away and appear with the largest mask I've ever seen."

It has inspired an indomitable sensation even with the deaths of over 200,000 Americans. But now the chickens are back home to roost, just as they did with the arrogant British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and the Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro. Covid-19, which Trump has described as the "invisible enemy," has infiltrated the Oval Office.

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Thirty-two days before the election often described as the most important in living memory, this changes everything. Trump was doing what he liked the most, holding his campaign rallies, on a hectic schedule in recent weeks, in an effort to recreate the remarkable magic of 2016. Any more rallies or flights on Air Force One for that matter, is now out of the question. In quarantine. If Trump loses the election, he may not hold a rally again.

There is also a huge question mark remaining over the second presidential debate, scheduled for October 15th. Maybe Trump, if he's good enough, can really get involved. Perhaps after what happened on Tuesday, any discussion will not be a mercy for everyone.

How will this play politically? If Trump is asymptomatic, there is a risk that he may once again seek to reduce the virus, and present the issue to his supporters: What's all the fuss about? But if he becomes seriously ill, he may benefit from the wave of popular sympathy, just as Johnson did.

Dr Finn Gupta, MSNBC pulmonologist and medical contributor, told the network: “Tonight's presidential race has fundamentally changed. There should be no more personal gatherings during the remainder of this season and I think there is a concern here, if the president stays without Symptoms, he may use it to reduce the risk of infection. "

He added, "They were making fun of masks in some cases. The fact that this happened even is a damning indictment, and unfortunately, kind of a" fact that we told you - like this "based on months and months of misrepresenting good public health practices. That was possible.

“It didn't have to happen if they were practicing the proper procedures and they didn't go to these gatherings and they had these chaotic events where, of course, airborne exposure was going to happen, even if it was outdoors. No concealment, no distancing, what would they expect that to be. Happen or occur? "

The revelation of the injury of Trump and his wife, Melania, raised concerns about Biden, who joined the president in the debate stage on Tuesday, although they did not shake hands. Not many of Trump's entourage were wearing masks in the auditorium. Hop Hicks, Trump's top aide, was present. Given all their travels, it's a contact tracing nightmare.

But Trump's critics will have to be careful to avoid some tripwires. Any euphoria or ill-wishership for Trump and Melania will be taken advantage of by Republicans as a sign of ruthlessness and political opportunism.

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Miles Taylor, the former Chief of Staff at the Department of Homeland Security and now a critic of Trump, tweeted: “We should all hope for our president and first lady to recover. But this is also a serious national security concern - and a disturbing consequence of the White House’s lenient approach to this deadly pandemic.”

Trump, who is 74 and overweight, is in the high risk category. The White House doctor said Friday that Trump is healthy enough to continue his duties. However, Covid-19 poses the biggest risk to the health of a US president since Ronald Reagan was shot outside a Washington hotel nearly four decades ago.

If Trump becomes seriously ill and unable to function, Vice President Mike Pence will take charge, following the procedures set out in the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But if Pence gets sick as well - unclear if his Covid-19 status is known - a constitutional crisis looms.

Under the rules of the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, the presidency must pass to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. But this means switching from a republican to a democratic leader. The Washington Post noted earlier this year: "Any effort to transfer power from Trump and Pence to Pelosi would surely inspire legal and political challenges, adding to chaos at the moment when the nation desperately needs stability."

As president, Trump had a duty to keep Americans safe. In the end, he couldn't keep it safe. As the infamous said, this is what it is....