Down The Middle News: How President Trump And His Democratic Rivals Are Balancing Crisis And Campaigning

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

With simply months to go earlier than he stands for reelection, President Trump is attempting to handle a serious nationwide disaster and his personal political future. Here is a part of the message he despatched at a White Home press convention yesterday.

(SOUNDBITE OF PRESS CONFERENCE)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: The selection we make, the precautions we put into place are essential to overcoming the virus, decreasing its unfold and shortening the period of the pandemic, which is what it’s.

MONTAGNE: In the meantime, his Democratic rivals try to ship their very own messages to each assist the general public and their campaigns. NPR political reporter Danielle Kurtzleben has been following this and joins us now. Good morning.

DANIELLE KURTZLEBEN, BYLINE: Good morning.

MONTAGNE: The president is working to marshal assets, each for the federal government and the non-public sector. However, , typically, after all, presidents are most influential as messengers. What do among the specialists you have been speaking to say is de facto useful in a disaster like this?

KURTZLEBEN: Properly, first issues first, they are saying {that a} disaster like this – I imply, crises like this are uncommon. This disaster is exclusive. Mike Leavitt, who was a Well being and Human Companies secretary below President George W. Bush, he identified to me that this is not like a hurricane or a twister the place there is a discrete localized influence. It is – for lots of people, it is a kind of rolling potential catastrophe. And persons are, for an prolonged time frame, frequently attempting to keep away from it.

MIKE LEAVITT: These are difficult, difficult emergencies totally different than a climate occasion – a twister or a hurricane – totally different from a terrorism occasion – totally different in a way that they occur all over the place on the identical time.

KURTZLEBEN: So with this taking place all over the place to all Individuals on the identical time, I imply, probably the most basic factor is to speak truthful info. Now, CNN this week counted actually dozens of falsehoods about coronavirus that Trump and his administration had unfold. And that was earlier than, by the best way, his Wednesday evening Oval Workplace handle wherein he appeared to get his personal insurance policies incorrect.

MONTAGNE: Yeah, proper. And folks, I feel, have a way of no management, and so they actually are in search of any person in management in a state of affairs like this. Conserving folks from panicking can, although, be very laborious, even for a president. How does he handle that?

KURTZLEBEN: Properly, so a technique is holding specialists shut at hand, kind of exhibiting that you’ve good folks round you telling you what to do. I requested a scientist, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins – her identify was Emily Gurley – about this. And she or he identified, , it is not simply exhibiting folks that you just’re getting good info, but additionally that, pay attention; I’ve folks telling me once I want to alter course if we have to change course and that we are able to do this shortly. And the president was placing Anthony Fauci and different specialists out entrance in an effort to try this.

Now, it’s also true, although, that if there is a disconnect between what the president says and what specialists counsel, that might add nervousness due to blended messages. For instance, he introduced that journey – the journey restrictions relating to Europe, and a few specialists have mentioned that that simply is not helpful.

MONTAGNE: And, after all, the Democratic candidates haven’t shied away from criticizing Trump’s responses right here. What has stood out for you from Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders?

KURTZLEBEN: Properly, one factor is, to begin with, they each gave speeches this week. Truly, Sanders gave two. And an enormous factor is, , they did not actually criticize one another in these speeches. They each appeared to have backed off of viewing one another as rivals right here. And, after all, they do not need to be seen as taking political benefit.

Now, that mentioned, they’re undoubtedly criticizing Donald Trump’s governing fashion. Joe Biden this week referred to as it a failure on testing that’s colossal, and he additionally referred to as it a failure of planning, management and execution. Now, Sanders additionally has mentioned this administration is, quote, “largely incompetent.”

Now, nonetheless, they’re taking somewhat little bit of benefit. Sanders is taking the chance to advertise “Medicare for All” proper now. Biden is pivoting to the final election. Actually, they’re simply attempting to point out that they could possibly be president throughout a disaster.

MONTAGNE: NPR political reporter Danielle Kurtzleben, thanks for becoming a member of us.

KURTZLEBEN: Sure. Thanks. Transcript supplied by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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