Trump's 180 Degrees Conversion: And His Total Compulsively Reflexive Denial

It's time to Break It Down!

Slowly, surely, inexorably! Months ago, I established that three-word sobriquet at my personal working title for the period of history that we will one day deem to have been the Trump era. Yes, it’s a longer title, but it is also inordinately more descriptive. Precisely, of what is it illustrative, you may ask? 

I’m glad you inquired. It presents a graphically detailed summation of the stages through which much of the American citizenry must transport itself, before it sees clearly the metaphorical house of cards that is the Trump administration. 

According to the Washington Post Fact Checker, by the 1,095^th day of Donald Trump’s administration, January 19, 2020, he had uttered 16,241 false or misleading claims. I have previously referenced Mr. Trump’s propensity to deal in non-truths, as cited by a number of fact-checking organizations. Said enterprises explain that they do not simply refer to each and every one of this extraordinary number of falsehoods as lies because they cannot rightfully discern that he intended to mislead, versus he simply doesn’t know any better. Rather than quibble, I’m OK with that. Even if one is described as having uttered false and misleading statements, the bottom line is the statements were other than truthful. I think the point is clear.

Last week I penned a post that I think most would agree was timely, speaking about the 

serious nature of COVID-19. I characterized it as, among other things, “a serious matter.” The Coronavirus is now in all 50 states. 

Since that time, the NBA halted its season, at least temporarily, most D-I athletic conferences scrapped their basketball tournaments, the NCAA cancelled March Madness, the start of Major League Baseball was delayed, along with a host of other sports world cancellations and suspensions. Moreover, a number of state and local governments have issued closures, and the Stock Market lost virtually all the gains made during the 3-plus years of the Trump Administration. But all of that pales in comparison to the tectonic plate shifting news that Donald Trump held a press conference Monday afternoon during which he acknowledged or conceded, with regard to COVID-19:

·      The situation is bad

·      The virus is not under control

·      The country might be heading into a recession

·      America may not get back to normal until mid-summer

·      We need to implement specific guidelines, including social distancing

·      Engage in schooling from home when possible

·      Avoid discretionary travel & eating in restaurants

In other words, you might say, he characterized it as “a serious matter.”

He had never, and I mean n-e-v-e-r before said any of those things publicly since the onset of the virus reaching our shores. His most decisive and noteworthy action related to the matter before Monday was imposing travel restrictions on China. So, what had he done to convey his lack of conviction that COVID-19 was an issue of critical importance and imminent danger? To tick off a few, from January through last week, he claimed repeatedly:

·      He had the virus under control

·      The number of cases would go down, not up

·      The virus might disappear, through a miracle, or something of the sort

·      The virus might vanish by April, with warmer weather

·      The media and Democrats were overhyping the situation

·      This is their new hoax

·      No, not at all (In response to an inquiry as to whether he was worried about a pandemic)

An old, but wisdom-laden bromide is “never look a gift horse in the mouth.” To wit, I’m happy to report the change in tenor in Trump’s posture. It was late, but it could have been never. Late is hella better than never. 

Undoubtedly, there are some, who, at the very least, wonder what on earth could prompt such a fundamental shift in posture and attitude by a such a big-brained stable genius of a guy who knows more than generals, meteorologists, scientists, Popes and Potentates? Combined! Well, through a lot of Trump watching, and a little bit of reading, I have a few ideas. CNN reported that officials and those close to Trump Monday and yesterday point to the following:

1.    Plummeting markets

2.    Economic data from China showing a devastating impact on growth

3.    New statistical models showing millions of Americans could die

4.    Private and public urging from his allies to adopt a more serious tone

5.    An about-face and new urgency from Jared Kushner

6.    At least 3 Mar-a-Lago guests having possibly spread the disease

7.    The influence and truth-telling of Dr. Anthony Fauci

On Tuesday Mr. Trump was asked about his change in tone. His response; predictable. He maintained his tone hadn’t changed much at all. In response to a query on the subject, he said:

"I mean, I have seen that, where people actually liked it. But I didn't feel different. I've always known, this is a real -- this is a real -- this is a pandemic. I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic. All you had to do was look at other countries...no, I've always viewed it as very serious. It was no difference yesterday from days before. I feel the tone is similar, but some people said it wasn't."

OK, now that I’ve stopped LMAOROTFLOL, I can continue. As I remind others all the time, we know who and what we are dealing with. It would be imprudent to expect otherwise. Indeed, this was simply another effort to spin those not paying attention, and, I suppose, reassure those who’s mantra is, “In Trump I Trust.” Either way, it’s a dense hot mass of bovine excrement. But you already know. “Trump’s 180 Degrees Conversion: And His Total Compulsively Reflexive Denial!”

I’m done; holla back!

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For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the links below:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/fact-check-trump-always-knew-pandemic-coronavirus/index.html

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-response-messaging/index.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2020/03/trumps-180-degrees-conversion-and-his.html