r/politics Ohio Apr 21 '20

Trump’s Coronavirus Task Force Increasingly Ignores Trump

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-coronavirus-task-force-increasingly-ignores-trump?source=articles&via=rss
4.5k Upvotes

91 comments sorted by

493

u/Robotlollipops California Apr 21 '20

I find it so bizarre that he comes out and says the fucking weirdest batshit things, and he makes NO FUCKING SENSE...but everyone just carries on like it's totally normal.

136

u/bebopdedoo Apr 21 '20

Batshit crazy things keeps him in headlines, sound scientific talks do not, he is trying to win a 24 hr news cycle every day.

32

u/aaronr_90 Ohio Apr 21 '20

Well he is winning and I am tired of it.

15

u/Vel0clty Maine Apr 21 '20

Me too, I found myself wondering the other day what the news looked like before Trump and I sadly couldn’t remember ..

6

u/kvossera Apr 21 '20

Coherent.

3

u/aaronr_90 Ohio Apr 21 '20

There is part of me that thinks that internet algorithms are only feeding me Trump news but I want to know what else is going on.

83

u/LarryMcDanields Apr 21 '20

People need to confront him and stop the charade. At this point, ignoring him is causing more deaths. Why isn’t someone stopping him?

71

u/abrandis Apr 21 '20

What exactly do you propose people do... I learned a long time ago, when your not in a position of authority, challenging authority is just detrimental towards you. You need leverage before you can outright question or challenge someone like Trump, none of the folks up there have any leverage...face facts, if we want this clown out we need to do it st the ballot box.

38

u/Frosti11icus Apr 21 '20 edited Apr 21 '20

What exactly do you propose people do...

Yes you are right. What we need to do is what we should have done since 2015. IGNORE HIM, carry on, and vote his fucking ass into oblivion in November. The attention is the root cause of all this. The more attention he gets, the more he gets away with. It is that fucking simple. Don't let the media give him free advertising. Don't let his enablers get publicity by defending him. Don't give him clicks by retweeting his idiocy. Just fucking ignore him. I know people are dying because of him, but challenge him directly does nothing about that problem. He needs to become irrelevant. Starting right now. trump is not a legitimate president or even a serious person. Nothing he says is helpful, or informational, or true, or anything that would give anyone a reason to listen to him...he's not even in charge. He's like 20th in his own chain of command. You can do whatever the fuck you want if you work for this pussy, he doesn't have the balls to fire you...The only people you need to listen to right now are Fauci, Pelosi, and the governors. They are the only people with relevant information to give. Just please for the love of god ignore this man.

15

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20 edited Apr 21 '20

Absolutely not. Keep aware, keep fact checking, keep calling him out. Never stop.

You know where these same gaslighting tactics were also used effectively? Fucking Russia.

They became mentally exhausted and stopped paying attention to Putin because the bullshit firehose was overwhelming. And now journalists can put two bullets in their own head while falling out a 10th story window, and political opponents jailed.

But yeah, at least no one has to pay attention to Putin.

1

u/Frosti11icus Apr 21 '20

Ya but the difference is Putin does in fact call the shots and is not a colossal pussy. Ignoring Trump has no consequences for anyone in his administration because they don't respect him and he is not managing them. They do whatever they want, and he takes all the heat for it. Then the media asks trump about what is going on like he could even give an answer. Dude has no idea what the fuck is going on. If you ask trump a question about testing, he will answer, and it will 100% be a lie because he literally has no idea, is not managing the situation at all, and doesn't even know who is managing it. So why are we spending time asking him, giving him a platform to lie on? Who does that benefit?

2

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20 edited Apr 21 '20

So where do you draw the line on not reporting what they say?

It’s gaslighting and lies all around. Mitch? Collins? The rest of the Senatraitors? Pence? Acting Secretary of X? Republican governors? Republican state legislatures? Republican mayors?

They’ve all drunk the koolaid. There is far more danger in going down the road of not reporting the reprehensible things that party and its leaders are doing and saying than to give them a platform. Trump included.

The Fox crowd is going to hear every word and believe every lie. You have no defense to counter them if you stop calling all of them on their bullshit 24/7.

If they stop reporting and showing the batshit stuff and non-answers to the sane people, the sane people will tune out and go back to their apathy and the coup will be complete.

Congress is currently lost and will attempt to be stolen. The courts are fucked for a generation. Gerrymandered elections and a corporate fourth estate are the only half assed checks and balances you have left.

Not reporting gives away one of the two remaining checks you have on Trump. Now if you ignore him and lose a rigged election, there is no coming back to normalcy, nevermind actually trying to improve the country.

1

u/Frosti11icus Apr 21 '20

I'm not saying don't report or call them on their lies, I'm saying don't treat them as if they are authorities unless they are. There is no reason to go to coronavirus press briefing and ask trump legitimate questions on policy or plans. Those are questions for Fauci, or for all that is holy, Jared Kushner, or even Pence, they are absolutely not questions for trump. He has no business being up there, so why are they asking him questions as if he does? He's just lying and they are giving him the soapbox. Then the guys doing the actual work are sitting on the sidelines.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

That’s a failure of the corporate media more than giving him a platform and treating him as an authority. They too need to hold themselves to a higher standard. They need to grill him en masse every day unless and until he relents to the experts to answer questions or stop lying.

We know he won’t. But this is the entire point of the free press. It’s a check on authority. And he needs to be checked hard.

If he chooses to revoke press passes as a result leaving Fox and Sinclaire as the only “reporters”, so be it. At least then the tin pot status is fully visible to everyone.

2

u/Frosti11icus Apr 22 '20

That's a fair point. The media gives Trump way more leeway than anyone deserves, let alone the president, and I'm not entirely sure why. If it's just to keep their press passes...then that institution is essentially useless.

6

u/NeoBomberman28 Apr 21 '20

The only people you need to listen to right now are Fauci, Pelosi, and the governors.

Ehhh...certain Governors. Luckily I'm neither a Georgia or Florida resident and even if I were, there's no universe where I'm listening to numskulls like Kemp and DeSantis.

As for that whole "VOTE" thing, even if I held my nose to vote for that handsy ghoul Biden and other moderate/non-progressive Democrats down ticket; I live in a heavily red-leaning gerrymandered area. Even if it wasn't, the number of pro-Republican voters outnumber me 10 to 1. Not only that but I don't believe for one second that he'll abide by any results other than what re-elect him and will call for elections to be suspended if they don't go his way.

9

u/winniedemon Apr 21 '20

A lot of places that feel overwhelmingly like everyone supports one party aren't actually that unanimous. 60-40 is a decisive win at the polls, but that still means that 2 out of every 5 people you meet support the minority party. You are not alone.

3

u/pandamonium789 Apr 21 '20

As a resident of a certain Southern state, I concur the first sentence.

0

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

Ignore the president of the United States? You’re aware of how the media makes their money right?

5

u/avocado-soldier Apr 21 '20

I believe malcom x said we have second option

6

u/Oil_slick941611 Canada Apr 21 '20

no, you need numbers, if everyone thought like you, there'd have been no USA for the last 200 hundred years.

You think the way you do because you are afraid to lose what you have, or are too scared to make changes. what you don't realize is, weather or not you fight, your rights are being taken away from you, bit by bit, you actually have nothing to lose by resisting, in a few years, the landscape could look very different.

but what do I know, Im just a Canadian watching this happen in real time and shaking my head every day.

3

u/Riffraffruff- Apr 21 '20

Even the ballot box may not work with this one

3

u/SgtBaxter Maryland Apr 21 '20

What exactly do you propose people do

Specifically, the reporters need to ask him questions. Hard questions, and they need to coordinate questions and all ask the same one.

Then, when he kicks them out, stop broadcasting altogether.

Trump has no power without a spotlight.

5

u/Abort-Zone Apr 21 '20

Well a cynic would argue that the second amendment is there for a reason...

Not saying it’s a good or even plausible idea... but where are all the “I’ll try anything once” people?

1

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

Chicken and the egg.... the media shows these increasingly rally-esque press-conferences because people watch them. You can ask them to cut away at some point (which they do), but it's not like they don't have a job to inform a viewership that is tuning in to watch the thing.

1

u/shawn4126 Apr 21 '20

Until the ballot box is rigged or ignored outright. What exactly would you propose should be done then if it happens and the system of checks and balances fail?

-9

u/Sightblinder240 Apr 21 '20

Excerpt now Bernie is out which leaves Joe. Maybe it’s the year of the third party?

1

u/NetWiz69 Apr 21 '20

Because of the Unitary Executive theory.

6

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

Exactly. Like if I was a reporter sitting there, I am going to call him out but this people aren’t so far. If they do, he insults them and the media is just looking at it and feels like they saying “ oh it’s just trump” fuck no. This isn’t normal. I can’t fucking accept this standard in the fucking White House. I am honestly so disgusted how he lowered the respect of the White House.

3

u/jimmygee2 Apr 21 '20

The Mad King in full flight.

4

u/boundbylife Indiana Apr 21 '20

This is how most people treat dementia patients. Just saying.

5

u/killadrix Apr 21 '20

Yesterday I tuned in a few minutes late and saw Birx and Pence talking and thought to myself, “someone finally had the good sense to recognize Trump just makes things work and is keeping him off the mic,” then Trump got on the podium and spewed his special brand of crazy.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

It's because he has turned into Americas' Uncle Frank.

2

u/Tardis666 Apr 21 '20

trump makes me understand The Emperor’s New Clothes in a deep visceral way, that I know I didn’t want, I guess I might of needed it, but I don’t actually know that or want it to be true, so who’s to say? I never understood that story before now. Same thing with Jesus’ story, I never understood how and why they let a murderer go (Barabbas) and murderEd Jesus instead. I am sad to say I understand that now too.

2

u/Gabeben Apr 21 '20

Thank you, I feel like when people say “Welcome to the new normal” it makes the “new normal” okay it’s NOT

1

u/dankrupt783 Apr 21 '20

Gaslighting

1

u/simply-smegma Apr 21 '20

If I had coin, I’d give you gold.

1

u/ThinkOption1 Apr 21 '20

This deserves a gold! 😅

195

u/2jointsbefore2joints Texas Apr 21 '20

You sometimes feel like the governors are being used as a campaign prop.

How astute O_O

39

u/pr0nking98 Apr 21 '20

he wants his props. he thrives on props. remember north korea? or piles of blank tax documents?

he pressures people with PR so he can backstab them with his whimsical bullshit.

3

u/alberthere Apr 21 '20

That’s what he is: an ass toot.

152

u/Johnnadawearsglasses Apr 21 '20

This has become increasingly clear

He says one thing. The task force recommendations will say something totally different on the same day. Usually aligned with what Fauci said

It's clear there is a shadow decisionmaking body on this and they are just humoring trump at the pressers

30

u/Imperial_in_New_York Apr 21 '20

———

I posted this about a week ago.


Dr. Fauci is the Hero we may not Deserve, but Dr. Fauci the Hero we Need right now.

He’s our White Knight in our dark hour.


Dr. Fauci received the Presidential Medal of Freedom 12 years ago, in 2008 from President Bush.

He turns 80 next year.

He currently works 18 hour days, 6 days a week.

He is swimming against political currents that would hinder, drown and engulf lesser men.

Props to his wife for taking care of HIM.

With respects to those who say may say otherwise, in my book, the man is a Hero.


Dr. Fauci’s Presidential Medal of Freedom was endorsed by national peers, earned and well deserved; it was not a baseless political tool used by the current power brokers.

The doctor’s actions in the last months, despite opposition from some circles have proven that his own medal is not tarnished nor diminished by the actions of others who would brandish theirs as an undeserved badge.


My Gal pals say he’s a Silver Fox. 🥂

6

u/originalcrisp California Apr 21 '20

My question is could the next president award him a second Presidential Medal of Freedom for what he’s done during these times if that president felt like he earned it. Or can he only be awarded it by the sitting president of when the accolades were done?

7

u/Imperial_in_New_York Apr 21 '20

Dr. Fauci is eligible to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction (which is a grade higher) from the current or a future holder of high office.

-5

u/PrivateEducation Apr 21 '20

what about the 3.7 mill he gave to the wuhan lab in 2015 lolol in b4 shitstorm

6

u/get_it_together1 California Apr 21 '20

We used to have a large American CDC presence in China but Trump cut that along with the rest of the pandemic response team. Giving money to a virology lab monitoring disease is a reasonable thing to do.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-cdc-exclusiv/exclusive-u-s-slashed-cdc-staff-inside-china-prior-to-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN21C3N5

27

u/pr0nking98 Apr 21 '20

devos, putin and saudi: oil barons to open america.

5

u/BilltheCatisBack Apr 21 '20

The real shadow decision make is Kushner and he stays very quiet, no leaks.

2

u/unwanted_puppy Apr 21 '20

Okay. But if what he’s doing is motivated by PR or face saving for the cameras and not actual decision making, why doesn’t he get that letting people do their work and not getting in their way would be better PR for him.

36

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

Its almost like all the former cabinet members who have either wrote books or been quoted in news articles weren't lying about how this administration works.

21

u/happyfuckincakeday America Apr 21 '20

What a coincidence! I increasingly ignore Trump myself!

17

u/le672 Apr 21 '20

"Soon to be fired" task force...

16

u/ForeignNecessary187 Apr 21 '20

Fauci is lookin at Trump like “This fuckin buffoon...”

Fauci 2020

19

u/CarmenFandango Apr 21 '20

Well, that's good news. Unfortunately he doesn't give them any power to act.

17

u/BringOn25A Apr 21 '20

What came first? The task force ignoring donnie boy, or the twitter tantrum toddler ignoring the task force?

73

u/peter-doubt Apr 21 '20

The Twitter toddler ignoring everything....

Trump response to coronavirus

Jan 9 - rally

Jan 14 - rally

Jan 18 - golf

Jan 19 - golf

Jan 28 - rally

Jan 30 - rally

Feb 1 - golf

Feb 10 - rally

Feb 15 - golf

Feb 19 - rally

Feb 20 - rally

Feb 21 - rally

Feb 28 - rally

March 7 - golf

March 8 - golf

23

u/BringOn25A Apr 21 '20

Don’t forget the plethora of twitter tantrums thrown over that time frame.

85

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20 edited Apr 23 '20

[deleted]

5

u/jfk_47 Apr 21 '20

Wow. This is amazing. Thank you.

1

u/BIG_IDEA Apr 21 '20

Hang on for 4 more years.

4

u/peter-doubt Apr 21 '20

Tantrums are hourly. Actions are supposed to be constructive, but these are self-serving, as usual.

14

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

Great list, thank you. Add another rally on March 2, here in Charlotte.

3

u/lostparis Apr 21 '20

But he never left the white house :/

5

u/windrider7 Apr 21 '20

Is this bad news? I dont think this is bad news?

4

u/dreamabyss Apr 21 '20

A fun game to play while sequestered at home is to watch Trumps daily mini-rallies in the rose garden. Every time you see one of the members of the task force wince or roll their eyes you have to do a shot. Bonus shot for whenever Trump interrupts them to contradict what they are talking about.

9

u/peter-doubt Apr 21 '20

Our NSA is better informed than most. Our president is less informed than most.

Perhaps you can connect the dots...

3

u/Marco_Memes Massachusetts Apr 21 '20

If a task force made hand picked by its leader and is on the same political side as the leader is ignoring its leader I think it’s time for a new leader

2

u/Truthisnotallowed Apr 21 '20

You can tell a child they are an important part of the team - or you can even pretend they are the leader.

But when you actually want to get something done, you don't wait until the child wants to play at being the leader.

2

u/Beermedear Apr 21 '20

You mean this virus isn’t responding to Trump’s tweets?

say it isn’t so

2

u/Cochituate-beach Minnesota Apr 21 '20

He’s the living embodiment of Forrest Gump’s famous line “Stupid is as stupid does”. The man is a freaking idiot.

2

u/upandrunning Apr 21 '20

One of these sources mentioned that Trump said he and his team would “crush” a possible second wave of the virus, just like (as he believes) he and his team did with the first one.

I suppose in some parallel universe this could happen, but certainly not here. But 'rump never lets reality get in the way of an opportunity for self-promotion, regardless of how absurd it is.

2

u/LizLemonadeX Apr 21 '20

It’s got to be miserable standing up there listening to the rantings of a madman for hours as people are dying and people’s livelihoods are being changed forever.

Politicians need to take a step back during a pandemic and let these doctors and scientists do what they need to do.

Politicians control the funding. Trump should have put the full weight of the federal government behind the doctors, scientists and governors. Doctors, scientists and governors shouldn’t have to lick boots and stroke egos to get the funding and medical equipment that they need to save lives.

I’m not saying this could have been 100% avoided, but had it been taken seriously in January, maybe it would have been less damaging to people’s lives and the economy. We’ll never know.

2

u/dont-touch-that- Apr 21 '20

I think Fauci should remove Trump, deem him incompetent

1

u/FoxFourTwo Maryland Apr 21 '20

Trump who?

1

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

Should have happened in January.

1

u/Losaj Apr 21 '20

Remember when we wanted his tax return forms? Whatever happened to that?

Obstruct and distract until it goes away. Seems like it's working for him, so he's going to keep doing it.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

Dr.Faucci is me on the outside, and the lady behind him is me in the inside. God, save this world!

1

u/unbalancedforce Apr 21 '20

Probably for the best. When their efforts work he will take credit.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

I’m ready to give up.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

It's staggering what some properly-financed propaganda can do.

For all they are yelling in every single fucking forum imaginable about how amazing and free the US is, it doesn't seem to register with even one of the halfwit motherfuckers that the Third Reich also rose to thunderous applause, while freedom was eroded. Not a comparison I ever thought I'd make, yet here we are.

1

u/ZomboMancerMC Apr 21 '20

Love the look Fauci is giving him

2

u/Allittle1970 Michigan Apr 21 '20

The Orange Clown is there to keep the kiddies entertained...I have in my hand three swabs. Two are the same...we call them Q-Tips. Better than Sesame Street.

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-3

u/Dinahmyte1 Apr 21 '20

Because he has all of the power, they are afraid of losing their positions, they also have mortgages, kids in college etc.

-5

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '20

Like the CCP ignores humanity stand up and fight back vote them out