Under Trump, COVID became a pandemic, the economy and the working class suffered, racism and antisemitism increased, and low- and moderate-income people were worse off than before. These are the real facts, not the fake facts that come from Trump and his allies. For proof, read on.
COVID - Trump’s mismanagement of COVID was a disaster. The U.S. government learned about COVID on December 31, 2019, one year before the end of Trump’s term in office. In the first few critical months, the U,S, government did nothing to stop the spread of COVID, other than stopping flights from China. The result was that by April, 2020, all 50 states declared disasters because of the spread of COVID. Had all travel from overseas been screened as soon as the danger was known, the pandemic could have likely been prevented. Had masks been mandated uniformly, the spread could have been greatly curtailed. By the time the vaccine was available - incredibly fast, within one year, which is a credit to Trump’s determination - COVID had reached epidemic proportions which the vaccination of only part of the population (10% fully vaccinated within the first few months, 62% within a year) could not stop, especially when combined with the relaxation of COVID restrictions which was encouraged by Trump. In the end, more than 1 million Americans died of COVID.
The Economy - The economy suffered under Trump. He enacted huge tax cuts for the rich which ballooned the deficit and did not bring the promised growth. His trade war with China caused a spike in prices and did not bring back jobs to the U.S. To deal with a possible recession, the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates, which while stimulating growth led to the growth bubble, increased prices, and inflation which we have been suffering from. And the pandemic, which was much worse because of Trump’s actions or inaction, was a huge drain on the economy. As a result, working class Americans suffered and were worse off.
Racism - Both in his 2016 presidential campaign and during his term in office, Trump vilified Hispanic and other immigrants in the harshest of terms, claiming the undocumented were causing a host of problems, which in fact they were not. In many instances, they were actually a benefit to the economy, providing employers with workers to do jobs that Americans, including Blacks, did not want, especially in farming. Trump also vilified American muslims, that is to say American citizens who were Muslim. And Trump catered to the White Supremacist movement saying, after the riot in Charlottesville, VA, that there are “many very fine people” in the movement and in other statements.
Support for Low- and Moderate Income People - After enacting huge tax cuts for the rich, Trump proposed massive cuts to basic assistance that millions of families struggling to get by needed to help pay the rent, put food on the table, and get health care. The cuts would have affected a broad range of low- and moderate-income Americans, including parents, children, seniors, and people with disabilities, both people of color and white, both urban and rural. These cuts were not enacted because of the Democratic majorities in Congress.
Abortion Rights - This is the one area where he speaks the truth; he is responsible for this disaster. Trump appointed 3 justices to the Supreme Court using a litmus test of whether they would overrule Roe v Wade and end the constitutional right for women to have an abortion within reasonable parameters. When an abortion case came before the Court in 2022, the new conservative super-majority overruled Roe v Wade and ended the right to abortion.
These are the real facts; except for abortion rights, very different from the lies and hype that come from Trump and his allies.
Is this someone you want as your President?
