The Ten Weeks That Lost the War: A Timeline of How Trump Lied, Bungled and Screwed America in the COVID-19 Crisis
by TIM MILLER
APRIL 21, 2020 5:25 AM
In the social media fog of war it can be easy to lose the thread as to just how the COVID-19 crisis came to our shores and what the Trump administration did and didn’t do to respond.
This timeline provides a look at the key inflection points in the crucial ten-week period where the United States lost the ability to effectively respond to the virus that is causing unprecedented death and economic destruction.
JAN. 3, 2020
CDC is first alerted to a public health event in Wuhan Province, China.
Per HHS Secretary Alex Azar in Press Q&A.
JAN. 10, 2020
Former Trump Advisor: "We face a global health threat...*new* kind of coronavirus. Coordinate!"
Former Trump Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert urges action on COVID-19.
JAN. 18, 2020
Azar can't get through to Trump to speak with him about the virus until Jan. 18. Trump redirects conversation to vaping.
Washington Post: Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar struggles to get through to Trump about the threat of COVID;
JAN. 20, 2020
"The first human infection with new coronavirus has been reported in the U.S."
CDC
JAN. 21, 2020
"VIRUS" "China virus kills six; 300 infected..."
Conservative media begins to sound the alarm, with the Drudge Report running “VIRUS” as a banner headline.
JAN. 21, 2020
"This is an evolving situation and again, we do expect additional cases in the United States"
The CDC’s Nancy Messonnier announces in a briefing that more cases are expected in the United States.
JAN. 22, 2020
"We have it totally under control. It's one person coming in from China."
On CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Trump dismisses the possibility of a coming pandemic.
JANUARY 2020
Intelligence agencies began warning Trump Admin that China wasn't being honest about the scale of the crisis as early as January.
Washington Post:
JAN. 24, 2020
"The US greatly appreciates China's efforts and transparency. I want to thank President Xi!"
Trump tweets a thanks to China and President Xi “on behalf of the American people”
JAN. 27, 2020
Joe Biden: Short-sighted Trump has left us unprepared for a dangerous epidemic
Biden op-ed on how Trump’s actions have hampered the U.S. ability to respond to coronavirus.
JAN. 28, 2020
Former Trump Admin Officials: "Act Now to Prevent an American Epidemic"
Scott Gottlieb and Luciana Borio op-ed in the Wall Street Journal offer 4-point plan to prepare for COVID-19
JAN. 29, 2020
Multiple news reports published on the need to address mask hoarding and shortages.
New York Times, The Atlantic
JAN. 28, 2020
Trump Admin Public Health Officials Begin Dire "Red Dawn" Email Chain discussing threat.
New York Times
JAN. 29, 2020
GOP Senator Tom Cotton Privately Warns Trump About Coronavirus Threat
From National Review article on the Senator who saw the virus coming.
FEB. 2, 2020
"Well we pretty much shut it down coming in from China...Getting along with China. Getting along with Russia."
In an interview with Sean Hannity, Trump dismisses any threat from COVID-19.
FEB. 2, 2020
The Trump administration restricts travel from China for immigrants and noncitizens.
This was not a travel ban as Trump claims. Americans continue to fly between the countries.
FEB. 3, 2020
“If we take strong measures now, we may be able to blunt the impact of the virus on the United States”
Public health officials around the world prepare for “social distancing” measures.
FEB. 3, 2020
Fox News host Tucker Carlson begins covering COVID seriously after a friend with "access to intelligence" informs him of the extent of the threat.
Fox News
FEB. 4, 2020
"It’s time to start testing more people, even if they haven’t visited China or been in contact with someone infected"
In the Wall Street Journal, Former Trump Officials Scott Gottlieb & Luciana Borio urge the administration to expand testing, provide more protective equipment, and accelerate vaccine development.
FEB. 5, 2020
HHS Secretary Alex Azar requests $2 billion for respirator masks and other supplies. Trump officials balk, wait weeks, then ask for only $500 million.
Washington Post
FEB. 5, 2020
"Just left the Administration briefing on Coronavirus. Bottom line: they aren't taking this seriously enough...Local health systems need supplies, training, screening staff etc. And they need it now."
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) tweet
FEB. 7, 2020
Mike Pompeo announces that the Trump Administration is sending 17.8 tons of medical supplies to China.
State Department Press Release.
FEB. 10, 2020
“A lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat—as the heat comes in.”
At a White House press conference, Trump suggests that COVID will go away as the weather gets warmer.
FEB. 20, 2020
Former Trump Officials Gottlieb & Borio urge expanded testing and increased vigilance against COVID.
Wall Street Journal op-ed
FEB. 23, 2020
"President Xi loves his country. He’s working very hard to solve the problem and he will solve the problem. Okay?"
Trump defends the performance of Chinese President Xi Jinping at a press conference.
FEB. 23, 2020
Harvard School of Public Health official Michael Mina issues a warning on limited COVID tests and the lack of transparency on testing failures.
Twitter
FEB. 24, 2020
"Coronavirus very much under control...Stock Market starting to look very good to me!"
Trump Tweet.
Note: The Dow Jones was at 27,960 that day. It has dropped as low as 18,591.
FEB 24, 2020
"You should seriously consider buying these {stock market} dips."
Trump’s top economic advisor Larry Kudlow
FEB. 24, 2020
Dr. Robert Kadlec at HHS requests urgent COVID task force meeting with POTUS to provide social distancing recommendations.
Meeting is cancelled. President did not make social distancing recommendations until 3/16, 21 days later.
FEB. 25, 2020
"Cryin Chuck Schumer is complaining...that I should be asking for more money than $2.5 Billion to prepare for Coronavirus
Trump requests $1.8-2.5 billion for COVID response, mocks Democrats for saying more is needed.
FEB. 25, 2020
CDC Expert Nancy Messonnier: "Disruption to everyday life might be severe."
Messonnier warns Americans to start preparing for school and business closures in response to the virus. Trump reportedly shouted at his staffers in response to the warning, complaining that she was scaring people.
FEB. 26, 2020
"When you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done"
Trump press conference
FEB. 27, 2020
"It's gonna disappear one day, it's like a miracle, it will disappear"
Trump press conference
FEB. 29, 2020
First COVID-19 death in United States
A Washington state man in his 50s became the first person to die from COVID in the United States.
MAR. 4, 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services stated that they had only about 1% of the respirators needed for a full-blown pandemic.
HHS statement to CNBC
MAR. 4, 2020
Trump ally Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) wears gas mask on house floor to mock those expressing concerns about the coming pandemic.
Within a few days, Gaetz is under quarantine and has one of his constituents die of COVID.
MAR. 4, 2020
"President Xi is working very, very hard in China...Their numbers have gotten much better with respect to the coronavirus, very much better"
Trump again praises China’s President Xi on his performance fighting COVID.
MAR. 6, 2020
"I’ve heard the numbers are getting much better in China, but I hear the numbers are getting much better in Italy"
Trump states that the number of COVID cases are going down in both China and Italy. Note: China has faced widespread skepticism over its reported numbers, and in early March Italy’s cases were beginning to skyrocket.
MAR. 6, 2020
"I like this stuff. I really get it... Every one of these doctors said, ‘How do you know so much about this?’ Maybe I have a natural ability."
Trump during a tour of the CDC in Atlanta.
MAR. 6, 2020
“I didn’t know people died from the flu.”
A Trump remark during a tour of the CDC in Atlanta.
MAR. 6, 2020
“I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault...I'd rather have them stay on, personally.”
Trump suggests that he doesn’t want Americans sickened by COVID on a cruise to return the United States, because it would make the numbers of infected in the country look worse.
MAR. 6, 2020
“Anybody who wants a test gets a test.”
Trump lies about test availability during a tour of the CDC in Atlanta. Note: On this date just 1911 tests were conducted in the whole country.
MAR. 6, 2020
"We don't have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward"
Vice President Pence.
MAR. 7, 2020
Conservative journalist Tucker Carlson flies to Mar-a-Lago to implore Trump to take the coronavirus threat more seriously in private.
Vanity Fair.
MAR. 9, 2020
"So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on."
Trump tweets a comparison to seasonal flu.
MAR. 9, 2020
"People you voted for have spent weeks minimizing what is clearly a very serious problem. It's definitely not just the flu."
Tucker Carlson obliquely criticizes Trump in his opening monologue.
MAR. 9, 2020
"It’s now or never for the U.S. if it hopes to keep coronavirus from burning out of control"
Tom Bossert, Former Homeland Security advisor for Trump, urges swift and aggressive action against the virus to prevent catastrophe.
MAR. 10, 2020
"It will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away."
Trump remarks during a press conference.
MAR. 10, 2020
"Viruses that spread like this tend to spread more. In certain communities at-risk people need to listen to social distancing recommendations. "
CDC official Nancy Messonnier sounds the alarm again.
MAR. 10, 2020
"A looming shortage in lab materials is threatening to delay coronavirus test results and cause officials to undercount the number of Americans with the virus"
POLITICO reports that US testing is threatened by lab material shortages
MAR. 11, 2020
"Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have contracted the virus. An NBA player has it. Stock market futures plunge again. The NBA season is canceled."
The scope and severity of the crisis becomes tangible.
MAR. 11, 2020
“If we get rid of the coronavirus problem quickly, we won’t need [economic] stimulus.”
Trump minimizes the potential economic impact at a press conference.
MAR. 12, 2020
House Democrats propose additional economic stimulus to address crisis
Initial package.
MAR. 12, 2020
“The bottom line is it’s going to get worse...the number could go way up and be involved in many, many millions"
Remarks from Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as the US death toll reaches 37.
MAR. 13, 2020
"I don't take responsibility at all."
Trump’s remarks at a White House Rose Garden press conference.
MAR. 20, 2020
Jared Kushner said it was on this date that he began to "build a team" to address the logistics of the COVID-19 crisis.
Trump Press Conferenc
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