Trump’s Appeasement Of China Hurt The American People
Trump is blaming everybody but himself for his Administration’s failed response to the corona virus. He seems to identify a new bogie man just about everyday. If it’s Monday, it’s the Democratic governors. On Tuesday, it’s the W.H.O. On Wednesday, it’s Schumer and Pelosi. I could go on. The buck stops anywhere but at Trump’s desk. This is not effective leadership.
The latest message from Trump and his followers is that China is to blame for the pandemic and that Joe Biden is soft on China. This is utter nonsense since Trump received numerous warnings about the deadly pandemic beginning in early January and has failed to take it seriously. Apparently, Trump is now claiming once again that it’s not his fault because he was tricked by China. That’s not a very compelling campaign theme.
The reality is that Trump himself has been soft on China. He believed the communist regime in China (and Fox News) over the U.S. intelligence agencies. His new, disingenuous effort to link Biden to China’s malfeasance is just the latest big lie coming out of his White House and his campaign. As Franklin Roosevelt said about the GOP in 1944: “Now imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery — but I am afraid that in this case it is the most obvious common or garden variety of fraud…. No, the record is not to be washed away that easily.”
Let’s take a look at the Trump record on China. We can’t count on the mainstream media to do it for us. GOP propaganda relies heavily upon amnesia and our duty as Democrats is to refresh memories.
Trump and his supporters like to boast about his failed China travel “ban” when they defend his record. The reality is that after the so-called travel “ban” was put in place, over 40,000 people traveled to the U.S. from China. Even after the imposition of this so-called travel “ban,” the U.S. continues to lag behind most other 1st world industrial countries when it comes the incidence of illness and death. This didn’t have to happen. Countries like China, Germany and South Korea are beginning to open up their economies. It was obviously a miserable failure.
The POLITICO website has compiled a list of 15 times that Trump praised China for its failed effort to prevent a pandemic in January and February of 2020:
Jan. 22, Twitter:
“One of the many great things about our just signed giant Trade Deal with China is that it will bring both the USA & China closer together in so many other ways. Terrific working with President Xi, a man who truly loves his country. Much more to come!”
Jan. 24, Twitter:
“China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”
Jan. 29, Remarks at signing ceremony for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement:
“And, honestly, I think, as tough as this negotiation was, I think our relationship with China now might be the best it’s been in a long, long time. And now it’s reciprocal. Before, we were being ripped off badly. Now we have a reciprocal relationship, maybe even better than reciprocal for us.”
Jan. 30, Fox News interview:
“China is not in great shape right now, unfortunately. But they’re working very hard. We’ll see what happens. But we’re working very closely with China and other countries.”
Feb. 7, Remarks at North Carolina Opportunity Now Summit in Charlotte, N.C.:
“I just spoke to President Xi last night, and, you know, we’re working on the — the problem, the virus. It’s a — it’s a very tough situation. But I think he’s going to handle it. I think he’s handled it really well. We’re helping wherever we can.”
Feb. 7, Twitter:
“Just had a long and very good conversation by phone with President Xi of China. He is strong, sharp and powerfully focused on leading the counterattack on the Coronavirus. He feels they are doing very well, even building hospitals in a matter of only days … Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. We are working closely with China to help!
Feb. 7, Remarks before Marine One departure:
“Late last night, I had a very good talk with President Xi, and we talked about — mostly about the coronavirus. They’re working really hard, and I think they are doing a very professional job. They’re in touch with World — the World — World Organization. CDC also. We’re working together. But World Health is working with them. CDC is working with them. I had a great conversation last night with President Xi. It’s a tough situation. I think they’re doing a very good job.”
Feb. 10, Fox Business interview:
“I think China is very, you know, professionally run in the sense that they have everything under control,” Trump said. “I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon. You know in April, supposedly, it dies with the hotter weather. And that’s a beautiful date to look forward to. But China I can tell you is working very hard.”
Feb. 10, campaign rally in Manchester, N.H.:
“I spoke with President Xi, and they’re working very, very hard. And I think it’s all going to work out fine.”
Feb. 13, Fox News interview:
“I think they’ve handled it professionally and I think they’re extremely capable and I think President Xi is extremely capable and I hope that it’s going to be resolved.”
Feb. 18, remarks before Air Force One departure:
“I think President Xi is working very hard. As you know, I spoke with him recently. He’s working really hard. It’s a tough problem. I think he’s going to do — look, I’ve seen them build hospitals in a short period of time. I really believe he wants to get that done, and he wants to get it done fast. Yes, I think he’s doing it very professionally.”
Feb. 23, remarks before Marine One departure:
“I think President Xi is working very, very hard. I spoke to him. He’s working very hard. I think he’s doing a very good job. It’s a big problem. But President Xi loves his country. He’s working very hard to solve the problem, and he will solve the problem. OK?”
Feb. 26, remarks at a business roundtable in New Delhi, India:
“China is working very, very hard. I have spoken to President Xi, and they’re working very hard. And if you know anything about him, I think he’ll be in pretty good shape. They’re — they’ve had a rough patch, and I think right now they have it — it looks like they’re getting it under control more and more. They’re getting it more and more under control.”
Feb. 27, Coronavirus Task Force press conference:
“I spoke with President Xi. We had a great talk. He’s working very hard, I have to say. He’s working very, very hard. And if you can count on the reports coming out of China, that spread has gone down quite a bit. The infection seems to have gone down over the last two days. As opposed to getting larger, it’s actually gotten smaller.”
Feb. 29, Coronavirus Task Force press conference:
“China seems to be making tremendous progress. Their numbers are way down. … I think our relationship with China is very good. We just did a big trade deal. We’re starting on another trade deal with China — a very big one. And we’ve been working very closely. They’ve been talking to our people, we’ve been talking to their people, having to do with the virus.”
While Trump was lavishing praise on the communist regime in China, his Administration authorized the shipment of more than 2 million respirator masks, 11,000 protective suits and 280,000 pairs of rubber gloves to Communist China on February 2. Two days later, Secretary of State Pompeo praised the non-profit groups that donated the valuable PPE to China.
According to the Washington Post: “U.S. manufacturers shipped millions of dollars’ worth of face masks and other protective medical equipment to China in January and February with encouragement from the federal government. The move underscores the Trump administration’s failure to recognize and prepare for the growing pandemic threat.
In those two months, the value of protective masks and related items exported from the United States to China grew more than 1,000 percent compared with the same time last year — from $1.4 million to about $17.6 million, according to a Post analysis of customs categories which, according to research by Public Citizen, contain key PPE. Similarly, shipments of ventilators and protective garments jumped by triple digits.”
What that means is that Trump allowed the shipment of millions of dollars worth of precious PPE to China while our heroes in the health care profession lacked such necessities as protective masks and gowns. Thousands of medical professionals have put their lives on the line due to Trump’s negligence and appeasement of President Xi of China.
It is no coincidence that this is the second consecutive Republican administration to lead the United States into disaster. This is the direct result of the GOP’s bankrupt governing philosophy that rejects science, expertise and government itself. The Republicans like to tell us that government doesn’t work and then they wreck government in order to prove it.
It is time for all Democrats to pledge to vote blue no matter who this November. The Democratic Party is the only check and balance on a radicalized GOP. United we are strong! United we will win!