Remembering Trump’s Disastrous COVID Response: A Critical Lesson for the Future
Former President Donald Trump echoed Ronald Reagan’s famous question at a recent campaign event, asking voters if they are better off now than four years ago – effectively prompting a comparison between the current state and Trump’s presidency during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many scholars suggest that public amnesia may have distorted people’s memories, with only 4% of voters polled stating they most remember Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Instead, responses focused on his ‘behavior’, economic policies, and stance on immigration. Experts argue that post-pandemic amnesia and a ‘misremembering’ of past events often happens after traumatic episodes. Furthermore, it’s contended that the Trump administration’s approach to the pandemic, characterized by denial, confusion, and misinformation, made it more challenging for the public to remember what happened accurately.
John Q. Hosedrinker