Donald Trump helped create a post-truth world – now people are questioning if he’s actually ill

The president’s battle with coronavirus highlights a deep distrust in US politics, writes Chris Stevenson

President Trump walking to the helicopter that took him to Walter Reed Military Medical Centre on Friday (AFP/Getty)

Donald Trump being taken to hospital for treatment over his coronavirus symptoms will bring to mind the same thing happening to Boris Johnson for many reasons.

Whatever your thoughts politically or personally about the US president, we can hope for a swift recovery to be followed by a fair – and respected – presidential election.

For Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden, Trump’s rival, it will have been an interesting few days. The former vice president has faced weeks of personal attacks from the sitting president over “hiding” in his “basement” campaign setting and doing a number of virtual events to avoid the spread of Covid-19 (and the possible risk to his own health given his age), but the tables have now turned.

Rather than looking weak, Biden has strengthened his position among those who believe Trump has shown a dangerous disregard for coronavirus – and while the White House deals with the fallout of tracing those who have attended recent events hosted in Washington DC, Biden will likely be picking up some votes among the independents that will be crucial to this election.

The fact that so many people are ready to believe that Trump may not even be ill, despite the statements from the White House doctor, shows the state of America after nearly four years of a Trump presidency. It highlights how polarised the nation has become, mixed with how the contempt Trump has shown for diplomatic norms has seeped into the national consciousness and led to a deep distrust of his office while he occupies it.

America can ill-afford for that to continue for another four years, even if Trump returns to the White House – and Republicans may be looking for the vice president, Mike Pence, to rein Trump in. The performance of Pence when he faces off against Kamala Harris – Biden’s running mate – in a debate still scheduled for this week will be interesting. More attention will certainly be focused on him given the current events.

If nothing else, we are certainly due for quite a few weeks ahead – and I’m sure you, the readers, will let us know how you think it is playing out.

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Editor, Voices