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Coronavirus: Trump vows US 'will not fail' even as he remembers 73,000 who have died

Two sentiments do not square neatly, the latest example of president and White House that struggle to strike consistent message

John T. Bennett
Washington
Thursday 07 May 2020 21:31 BST
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Donald Trump vowed to prevent a United States failure as much of the country remains locked down due to the coronavirus outbreak, even as he remembered those who have died from it.

“We will not fail. We will not fail,” Mr Trump said at a National Day of Prayer ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.

“We will continue to prevail. We will prevail again. We will vanquish the virus,” he said without laying out a plan to do so.

In recent weeks, however, the president and his administration have shifted to a strategy of pushing governors to begin opening their states -- and to handing them responsibility for what might happen if they do.

Democratic legislators and many public health experts warn the opening of states will automatically increases Covid-19 cases and deaths.

Though the president vowed to win over the virus, in almost the next breath, however, he told the families of those who have died that “we will never forget you”.

“We will be there for you. May God continue to strengthen our hearts and sustain ourselves,” he said at the religion-themed annual event.

The two comments do not square neatly, just the latest example of a president and White House that struggle to strike a consistent message on any given day.

Senior Democrats also think the Trump administration already has failed.

“The governors are doing their best. But as you know, it’s very hard to get back to work in a good way unless we have real testing. This administration is way behind in the testing, has messed this up from the get-go,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told MSNBC on Thursday. “We have a huge crisis here. We haven’t had as many people unemployed since the Great Depression. Stores, businesses are closing all the time. More people are being laid off. People are being -- have trouble in every way economically.”

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