'It will go away': A timeline of Trump downplaying the coronavirus threat

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/12/trump-coronavirus-timeline/

By Aaron Blake

March 12, 2020 at 10:24 a.m. EDT

<snip>

Today, cases are rising quickly, major institutions like the NBA are shutting down, and there are increasing complaints about the availability of testing.

Below is a timeline of Trump’s comments downplaying the threat posed by the virus.

<snip>

Feb. 28: “It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”

Feb. 29: “We’re the number-one travel destination anywhere in the world, yet we have far fewer cases of the disease than even countries with much less travel or a much smaller population.”

March 4: “Some people will have this at a very light level and won’t even go to a doctor or hospital, and they’ll get better. There are many people like that.”

March 5: “With approximately 100,000 CoronaVirus cases worldwide, and 3,280 deaths, the United States, because of quick action on closing our borders, has, as of now, only 129 cases (40 Americans brought in) and 11 deaths.”

Link to tweet

Donald J. Trump ✔@realDonaldTrump

With approximately 100,000 CoronaVirus cases worldwide, and 3,280 deaths, the United States, because of quick action on closing our borders, has, as of now, only 129 cases (40 Americans brought in) and 11 deaths. We are working very hard to keep these numbers as low as possible!

12:34 PM - Mar 5, 2020

March 6: “We did an interview on Fox last night, a town hall. I think it was very good. And I said, ‘Calm. You have to be calm. It’ll go away.' ”

</snip>

Way more at the link, but I think it's paywalled?

[Jarqui]

1. If he doesn't get the testing happening soon,

he's going to kill a lot of people.

[Chainfire]

2. There will be historical studies

Of the total failure of Trump to accept the threat of the disease, and take timely action to slow the spread. The worst President in the nation's history keeps fining lower levels to sink to.

[Stuart G]

3. This proves beyond doubt that Trump is a stupid fool. K and R

[Goodheart]

4. That timeline seems incomplete.

Jan 21. : "We have it totally under control."
Jan 21. : “It’s one person coming in from China. We have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.”
Feb 28. : "They tried the impeachment hoax. And this is their new hoax."

[Dennis Donovan]

5. Yes, copyright restrictions

I put in the newer statements, things he said at a time we knew more about the virus (and knew he was completely full of shit about it).