Jerry Falwell Jr. told the press Liberty University students can come back to school, even though health experts claim that’s a stupid move. Falwell likes to support Trump’s ideas. Mr. Trump represents what evangelical leaders like Jerry want in a president, according to the Economist.
But now that the coronavirus calls the political shots, the president has to try to fix a problem he didn’t create. His re-election hangs on his ability to handle the pandemic like a true leader. According to the polls, 50% of Americans think he’s got things under control. But people on Trump’s team think the confusion, lack of personal protective gear, and medical equipment like ventilators and respirators will be the president’s political downfall.
The healthcare system is in bad shape. It’s been that way for years, according to Bernie Sanders. People finally realize why Sanders wanted Medicare for all. Trying to handle the issues created by a pandemic on the run isn’t what health officials like Tony Fauci recommend. When Trump told the press he wants people to go back to work the day after Easter, Fauci told the press the coronavirus sets the time frame, not Mr. Trump.
Spiking unemployment numbers continue to keep the president up at night. And his daily press conferences sound more like an economic pep rally rather than giving people concrete information about the real availability of more medical and personal protection equipment. And the president continues to pick fights with reporters even when reporters ask him softball questions, according to the New York Times.
China’s factories are back to work. But getting people back to work is a lot slower than the government thought. Plus, factory orders are way down due to the world being on lockdown. The Chinese thought they could kick start their economy in the second quarter, but that won’t happen. Several economists predict China’s 6.0% growth is a thing of the past. China’s GDP growth will be in negative territory for the next two quarters, according to Wall Street economists.
U.S. growth hit 2.1 percent at the end of December. But just like China, U.S. growth will drop by at least 6% at the end of March. And it could drop another 35% by the end of June, according to Associated Press. If the coronavirus doesn’t move on soon, the economy will hurt Trump no matter who the Democratic challenger is, according to the Washington Post.
