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TWO TOP US economic advisers have defended the need for a speedy reopening of the economy even as more staff members at the White House contracted Covid-19 despite the extraordinary precautions taken there.
Today’s comments by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and economic adviser Larry Kudlow came just two days after the US recorded its steepest job losses in history, with 20.5 million jobs lost in April, but virus cases are continuing to rise in some states with far more deaths projected.
The remarks also came after confirmation that Vice President Mike Pence’s spokeswoman and a White House valet who served President Donald Trump had tested positive for Covid-19, and as three members of the White House coronavirus task force — including top expert Anthony Fauci — reportedly self-quarantined after potential exposure to the virus.
Kudlow was asked on ABC’s This Week how US businesses could reopen with confidence when the White House — where virus protections are far more rigorous than what is available to most Americans — had proven vulnerable.
Those cases, Kudlow said, represented a “small fraction” of the 500 or so staff members working in the White House complex. “I don’t know the specific numbers,” he said, “but we have had relatively very few”.
He added that federal and state guidelines coupled with private sector innovation should allow relatively safe reopening.
But he placed the ultimate onus for safety not on government but on individual businesses, saying they “are probably going to wind up leading this charge”.
Higher death forecast
Most US states have begun at least tentatively reopening for business, but that inevitably will mean more travel and higher risks.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations, whose virus projections have been closely watched, during the week raised its US death forecast — to 137,000 deaths by 4 August — based largely on “explosive increases in mobility in a number of states” director Christopher Murray said.
That number, far above the current total of almost 79,000 (the highest death toll of any country), reflects both looser restrictions and “quarantine fatigue”, he said on CBS, and it came despite positive trends in the hard-hit states of New York, New Jersey and Michigan.
In states that have loosened their restrictions recently, Murray predicted “a jump in cases” in about 10 days from now.
But both Kudlow and Mnuchin stressed that undue delay in reopening would also carry a cost.
“I think there’s a considerable risk of not reopening,” the Treasury Secretary said on Fox. “You’re talking about what would be permanent economic damage to the American public.”
Yesterday, it emerged that former US President Barack Obama called Trump’s handling of the pandemic an “absolute chaotic disaster” in leaked audio.
‘A tremendous snapback’
Kudlow, pushing back on reports of growing partisan tensions in Washington over another tranche of emergency relief, said informal talks with Democrats were under way, but he and Mnuchin emphasised the need for caution.
“We just want to make sure that before we jump back in and spend another few trillion of taxpayers’ money, that we do it carefully,” Mnuchin said.
Still, both Mnuchin and Kudlow again expressed optimism that the US economy would register a sharp recovery in the second half of the year, with Kudlow predicting “a tremendous snapback” in 2021.
Trump reiterated during the week his belief that the virus would simply “go away”, even without a vaccine.
Asked about that today, Dr Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health and Security at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, dissented.
“No, this virus isn’t going to go away,” he said on Fox, adding that it would remain as a “background problem” both in the US and around the world until a vaccine is developed.
The White House has some of the most rigorous precautions against Covid-19 of any US venue at the moment. The president, vice president and many others are tested daily.
But Trump and Pence have frequently defied the government’s own guidance about wearing protective masks, and both men have travelled to other states in recent days.
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The big question is wether their union will survive this. I have my doubts. They have neither the mental nor physical health to cope as far as I can see. Basket case of a country.
@Louis Jacob: The most powerful and successful country in history can be simply dismissed as a basket case? ok…
@Sylvia O’Regan: Certianly it’s leader can be!
@Tony Gordon: My comment below is relevant this thread:
The qualities of individuality and a brave pioneering spirit that helped them create the most powerful economy in the world is working against them in this situation and will be their downfall. Countries that are homogenious, stable, low risk and high trust societies are doing far better in this environment.
The government can only do so much. It is ultimately down to individuals and their behaviour.
@Sylvia O’Regan: Oh yeah
You’re the one with no skin in the game. Just a casual observer.
@Louis Jacob: Aren’t we all? Unless you’re an American?
@Sylvia O’Regan: Watch or read Chris Hedges’ about his book ‘America: The Farewell Tour’. Even vast and powerful countries can quickly decline, unless there’s the political will and public consensus to address the realities of changing circumstances. Arguing on the basis of the 1950′s to the last decade that America is traditionally the world’s most powerful country is missing the whole point.
@Sylvia O’Regan: Rome was a basket case in the end too.
@Sylvia O’Regan: “The most powerful and successful.. in history”??? How long do you think history is, 300 years?
Just a kind reminder, Any of the ancient civilisations lasted 1,000s of years and had their ups and downs. USA is having its own downfall and others will rise and lead. That’s just the law of nature.
@Louis Jacob: Wow! I rolled my eyes and smiled when I read your comment. The sense of superiority it conveys seems so pretentious and childish. How have you gotten from THAT mild comment to accusing me of being very defensive and suggesting that I’m “racist”???
If I had heard you make that comment in person I would have just rolled my eyes and walked away. Unless you’re trolling, in which case congratulations. You succeeded.
@Seriousnojoke: The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans were advanced for the barbarous time in which they existed. But objectively there is no comparison with the US and its influence on the modern world. We benefit from the relative peace and order they have enforced on the world. It’s no coincidence that progress in science, technology and culture has rapidly increased in the last 70 years, to where nearly all evolution in living standards has taken place in that short time. The US isn’t perfect, but I’m grateful for the positive things they have done.
@Sylvia O’Regan: To be honest I think you are an example of the dunning kruger effect. You think you’re making sense and joining the dots in an enlightened way but really you’re just rationalizing stupidity.
@Sylvia O’Regan: I also think you’re highly susceptible to dogma.
@Louis Jacob: Agreed with you man, she (or maybe “it”) is clearly troll and beyond help. Let’s not waste our time. Cheers.
@Sylvia O’Regan: that is nonsense historically. The Roman Empire bestrode the world in every shere for hundreds of years and the modern world is still very much in the it’s debt, culturally, legally and technically.
@Louis Jacob: agreed, I the the USA will disintegrate just like the USSR and the British Empire and every other Empire. Empire’s are governed by Emporors, Kingdoms by Kings and Country’s by ………
@Louis Jacob: That’s an interesting bit of projection. I’ve argued my case whereas you’ve focused on insulting me. I’m fully aware of the negative aspects of the US. I would have given balanced comments on the good and bad of the US and its response to the crisis if I didn’t see genuine dogmatic comments like yours. So I play devils advocate and try to balance the comments section.
I’m still completely confused by your suggestion that I am a “racist”. Where did that come from? That is a very strong sign that you are trolling. So I’m probably better off leaving you to it.
@Sylvia O’Regan: Your very first comment was insulting and dismissive. Maybe your problem is a lack of self awareness. Devils advocate? That’s hilarious. You’re an interesting little bundle of tricks.
@Louis Jacob: Oh the racist thing. That was speculation. I’m trying to understand why anyone would be defending Trump now.
@Sylvia O’Regan: Actually I think that maybe you’re an american. All the the Ts crossed and all the commas in the right places but no real fluidity of thought. Maybe I’m wrong.
@Sylvia O’Regan: Are you being serious? The Greeks alone gave us Democracy, scientific process, philosophy – cornerstones of modern western culture. The United states has primarily given us consumerism. I strongly urge you to read up on the actions of the US abroad. How you can even suggest they have given an era of global peace is bewildering. What was once a great country has been ravaged by business/political interests to the point it is has devoured itself for profit margin and decapitated it’s own institutions of government. Randy Newman summed it up well in song “The end of an empire is messy at best, this empires ending, just like all the rest”
@Louis Jacob:
@Sylvia O’Regan clearly has a very valid point. The technological advances that the US has introduced in the last 70 years is unprecedented. Perhaps assisted by the work of Germany’s WWII scientists but developed to fruition by the Americans. US companies effectively rule the world of tech; Alphabet, Intel, Apple, Microsoft, AMD, Facebook, Oracle, IBM and many more.
US social influence is also unprecedented. The influence of US movies and US music on our world is incredible. US music is ubiquitous. 90% of the world’s adults could list you out the names of famous US movie and rock stars without hesitation.
Your “racist” remark and your Dunning-Kruger reference would indicate that you are a little lacking in the intellect department, and are struggling to discuss at 6th class/grade level. Your original question “wether [sic] their union will survive this.” is to put it kindly a little naive and of course lacking that most basic substance of an intelligent question – proper spelling and a question mark.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: another one.
@Sylvia O’Regan: I expect the racism comment came from your apparent support of Trump. Bit of a leap, I know, but just to answer your question. And no, America does not have an empire in the traditional sense and Britain probably had the greatest empire of them all (this is not meant as a compliment) the USA is currently a basket case, drowning in hubris and inequality
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Attacking people’s grammar and punctuation on a comments section where we’re all typing on smart phones is pretty thick. Im not writing a dissertation and I didn’t do 6th GRADE.
@Sylvia O’Regan: Don’t tell that to all the poor Americans.
@Louis Jacob: Where did I mention Trump? I don’t like him. I was defending the many wonderful people in America, many of whom hate him. If you’re not trolling, then I really don’t understand your behaviour at all. I apologies if you thought I was being very insulting and dismissive in my first response. I didn’t attack you or call you names, though. I just couldn’t understand how you could dismiss the US as if it were some third world country. We are not so perfect in Ireland either. I’d rather look at the positives than obsess at the negatives of a country only.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Anyway. O prefer arguing with Sylvia. Can we get her back?
@Sylvia O’Regan: We’re not obsessing about negatives. We’re depressed about the tragedy that’s unfolding in front of us. America has had massive structural problems for a long time. The whole world suffers because of how divided they are. They hate eachother and they sort their problems out through others countries. Iran is a case in point. How many people will die there because of one little speech Obama made where he ridiculed Trump?
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Incidentally, the first sentence was a statement not a question… Uh oh.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: At least you think you’re smart. That’s something.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Anyone with any brain at all could figure out from my use of the language that I’m not American. Also this is an irish site. Another dogmatic beauty you are.
@Louis Jacob:
Thejournal.ie is a owned by Distilled SCH Limited, which in turn is owned by Norway’s Schibsted Media Group. It is hosted on AWS servers, which means the site is mirrored across Europe and the US. Registration of a “.ie” domain can be done by anyone, from anywhere in the world. It can hardly be described as “an irish site.”
Also I am not sure if you know or not, but websites can be accessed from anywhere in the world. People in the US have exactly the same access to this site as Irish people have.
“no skin in the game” is a very American saying and your spelling of “rationalizing” is typically American. The general lack of substance in comments and your compensatory arrogant & aggressive tone wouldn’t be common for an Irish person.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: You didn’t address your assessment that my first sentence should have ended in a question mark. You yourself have had plenty of punctuation mistakes in your comments above. I wouldnt lower myself but seriously, some of your sentences dont even make sense. Anyone with a little bit of cop on would see that I was being flippant with the skin in the game. That was was me being verbose. And as far as being arrogant and aggressive goes, again, a little self-awareness would do you the world of good. Your comments read like a puffed up toff. The most arrogant thing you can do is question someone’s literacy. I might be dyslexic. You have no idea. Also, you keep saying that my opening statement is childish but it’s a worry that alot of people have, including members of the american Senate and Congress. This is the adult world buddy. Its nearly midnight. You dont get to be provocative and precious at the same time you poor baby.
@Louis Jacob: and you havent made one comment of substance on the topic, only some silly side show about movies and rock bands, all of which were subjective.
@Seriousnojoke: love or hate the USA there is no denying that they are the most powerful nation in history there is no ancient society that has been able to control dictate and crumble governments like the USA have been able to. They can topple governments thousands of miles away without any us soldier getting killed the entire worlds currency is based off the dollar no previous empire can come close to them in this respect. However, in any other aspect of what makes a leading country, empire they fall far behind.
@cian: All the power in the world won’t save them from their own lack of cohesion as a society. They have taken the idea of the pursuit of happiness and ran with it at the expense of everything else. They are now lost in fantasy and fetish and Trump is the pinnacle of that. This pandemic is tearing them asunder and all they can do is turn on eachother. What is going to happen when states start closing their doors on eachother. All this conversation about their power and influence is completely beside the point.
@cian: Sorry. I left out a few question marks there. Feardorcha thinks thats qhatvthis is all about.
@Louis Jacob: what this is all about.
@Sylvia O’Regan: how would you define “homogenous” popukation in this context?
@Nina Wallenius: She thinks countries outside the US are like Disney world and the people that live in them are Micky Mouse.
@Louis Jacob:
“That was was me being verbose”
You might want to look up verbose in a dictionary.
“The most arrogant thing you can do is question someone’s literacy.”
No. I think calling someone a racist for no reason is significantly more arrogant
“Also, you keep saying that my opening statement is childish but it’s a worry that alot [sic] of people have”
There is not a single intelligent, educated adult who thinks that the United States of America is in any danger of breaking up. It has gone through significantly more divisive things than Donald Trump’s presidency and it has survived. Your comment was moronic in the extreme, and your “racist” retort even more so
“I might be dyslexic.”
You are clearly not dyslexic but it’s interesting to see that your only viable comeback is to hide behind a serious learning disability. You seem like a person of great integrity.
Its pretty obvious from the structure, spelling tone and content of your comments that your issues are simply down to a poor intellect and poor level of education.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: You still haven’t explained why I should put a question mark at the end of a statement. And why do you keep having to indirectly remind me that you’re educated when the majority of people are? You must be very insecure… and dull… very. As for verbosity, I know exactly what it means. I never said anyone was racist. I could go on but you’re a complete bore. At least Sylvia had some original thought going on.
@Louis Jacob:
“The big question is wether [sic] their union will survive this.”
The hint was in the phrase “The big question is”
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: oh no. You have to quote other people. Like I said, dull. And no you never put a question mark at the end of a statement.
@Louis Jacob: Maybe I shoud explain it for you seeing as you can’t seem to grasp it. You just demonstrated that by doubling down on the same error. It’s pretty simple. The sentence states what the question is. It doesn’t ask the question. Maybe you can find someone else to quote now. You might have some ideas of your own but I haven’t seen them here. Lack of originality is a real clue when you suspect someone of being thick. And I think you know that.
@Louis Jacob:
You are the gift that keeps on giving.
“The sentence states what the question is.”
I am afraid that the question still needs a question mark. Its very basic English grammar. It’s national school stuff.
” I never said anyone was racist.”
You most certainly did. You explicitly called @Sylvia O’Regan a racist. The journal.ie removed your nasty comment, but her responses to it are still there. Are you going to hide behind some other made up disability for that one?
Its been fun, but way too easy, taking the mickey out of you. I am still laughing at your “dunning kruger effect” comment. You are so far out of your depth it is hilarious.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Yeah I can see what a laugh you’re having alright seeing as you keep coming back to it. I never called her a racist. I suggested she might be as a way of finding out her true position. I’ve had plenty of joists with sylvia on the trump threads. Shes good craic because you can always get back to the subject at hand and she has a good imagination. You would have noticed that we got back on topic at the end except far you’re a dullard. This is a commentary section on a virtual newspaper. Sylvia doesn’t take it personally. This is just a little bit of messing. But you obviously have self-esteem issues. Here’s a bit of advice. Germinate some seeds or keep some bees. Do something to stimulate your creativity and stil using other peoples ideas because you are so pedantic its unbearable.
@Louis Jacob: Obviously that comment is full of spelling and grammatical mistakes. Like I said it’s not a thesis.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: the gift that keeps on giving. Another dull cliche.
@Louis Jacob:
You seem a little mentally confused. You absolutely, categorically, unambiguously and explicitly called her a racist. I understand you are now a bit embarrassed by it, but lying about it only makes it worse. She quiet clearly has a different view of your “relationship” than you do.
I’ll skip on your suggestions as I generally ignore the advice of semi-literate pathetic individuals, who call others racists, lie about it and then feign a learning disability.
You probably don’t see irony of you assuming she was a Trump supporter.
The “dunning kruger effect” It just cracks me up.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: My exact words were; ” Maybe you’re a racist”. It was actually a good little debate until you came along and killed it stone dead by going completely off topic. Nasty little Dullard. Good bye Feardorcha (another tired cliche)
@Louis Jacob: Mentally confused. Is there any other way to be confused?
@Louis Jacob: “It was actually a good little debate”
You are very much alone in that assessment.
“I’m still completely confused by your suggestion that I am a “racist”. Where did that come from? That is a very strong sign that you are trolling. So I’m probably better off leaving you to it.”
I can’t stop laughing! I roll my eyes at Louis Jacob’s original comment and suddenly an all night comment section war breaks out! Maybe this is how World War 3 will start? Someone makes a snide or sarcastic comment and next thing every country is attacking each other. The absolute state of internet discourse!!!
@Sylvia O’Regan: Totally agree. Sorry for suggesting you might be a racist. I’m not a troll but I was trolling you (a little)
@Louis Jacob: Yes, I thought you might be playing with me. You did that well. No problem. At least I was able to laugh at the pointless war it started!
@Sylvia O’Regan: We’ll meet again. I’m well aware that you don’t need anybody to defend your honour. Stay spikey.
Agree. He’s inflicted some serious long term damage on the country that will take decades to remedy, specifically his 1950’s era Supreme Court picks. Crushed the middle class with the Paul Ryan tax plan and severely slanted the smaller courts with McConnell at the helm. The pandemic just highlights a cocktail of his flaws ; inability to read/pay attention to his daily briefings. Inability to comprehend the ramifications of a pandemic, refusal to listen to experts, inability to express any empathy towards the people amid the horrific death toll, absolute refusal to ever acknowledge he was wrong and his disturbing predilection to just flat out lie to the public on a daily basis. He’s sending people out to die at a rate of one ‘9/11’ every day from here on out
@Wayne Connor: Great comment. Add to that he has coerced a following of spupidy that make the tea party look like a mensa group. They’ll be around for a long time to come and he’s inciting them to violence. The US is on the brink.
@Louis Jacob: *stupidity
@Louis Jacob: agree, it’s a well financed movement with corporate interests only
@Louis Jacob: I like stupidy better…
Looks likely they’ll be at least 250,000 dead in the US by the end of the year. Can already hear him crying “fake news”.
@Johnny 5: they said last week that they expected the number to reach 74000 deaths by August .. today 10th may, it hit 80000… they’re in so much trouble and running head first into a brick wall.
@Kevin Conway: Parts of the US are in trouble. New York in particular. The qualities of individuality and a brave pioneering spirit that helped them create the most powerful economy in the world is working against them in this situation and will be their downfall. Countries that are homogenious, stable, low risk and high trust societies are doing far better in this environment.
The government can only do so much. It is ultimately down to individuals and their behaviour.
@Kevin Conway: and that’s only the deaths that they are reporting. I know that Yale/Washington Post research for March through to 4th April calculated excess deaths to be nearly twice those reported for Covid19. At a minimum, they shot over 100,000 dead some weeks ago. Shambles of a country.
@Sylvia O’Regan: New York has the lowest infection rate and deaths since the crisis began. The states that are prematurely opening up are the ones in trouble. They will set the whole country back by months
@Kevin Conway: and they’re probably lying about the figures! I’d say the real total will be closer to 500k by year end
@D H: source that NY has the lowest infection rate please!
I’m convinced Trump ran in 2016 not intending to win, but to increase his celebrity and milk a political opportunism past the election. Trump has doomed his own reputation. By becoming President his administration and legacy will be examined by the world’s foremost experts in politics, sociology, history, the military, diplomacy, science, economics, journalism, biography, foreign affairs, etc. Being a showman, or a celebrity businessman would be one thing, but being President makes you the focus of long term history.
@David A. Murray: I agree 100%
Having listened to Borris’s announcement tonight , I’m believing that we really have the perfect storm
It would be funny if his utter incompetence wasn’t so dangerous.
Not one redeeming quality.
#ABT2020
RIP the United States of America as it was, there’s no Union on that place majority would still have slaves if it was acceptable
Yeah, Boris said go back to work if you can, trump is reopening. The Swedish model is here as much as politicians can admit their mistakes.
Our lot, however: “We’ll revisit every 3 weeks for 15 weeks”
@ah: Swedish model… close secondary schools and colleges, table service only in pubs, cafes and restaurants, if possible, work from home; avoid unnecessary travel within the country; to engage in social distancing and for people above 70 to stay at home, as much as possible… Over 90% fall in public transport… The Swedish have recommendations and follow them without the need for legal lockdown. Also note that Sweden has stopped (last I read) testing of suspected cases in the community as well as contact tracing so both the cases and death rate are suspect as could be as much as 40% higher – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sweden – the Swedish government is prohibited by it’s constitution from lockdown but this does not alter the health advice given.
@Niall Ó Cofaigh:
Do you really think case numbers matter? Look at the 50+ antibody studies worldwide showing actual cases are 10-100x the number of ‘confirmed’ cases. Also look at the many examples of cases months before countries had their ‘official’ first case.
Regurgitating the mainstream opinion that Sweden doesn’t matter because we are too stupid to know what is good for us is sad. It just shows you miss the point that sensible social distancing should have been entrusted to an informed public rather than exaggerated by media and regulated by government.
And are you quite sure lockdown for two months is constitutional in ireland? We’ll see.
@Niall Ó Cofaigh:
Swedish model hasn’t preserved their economy though -
https://www.wsj.com/articles/sweden-has-avoided-a-coronavirus-lockdown-its-economy-is-hurting-anyway-11588870062
So they have limited mandatory restrictions, they are in fact voluntarily complying with many others, but still have a death rate 6 times that of neighbouring Norway and Denmark, but have not preserved their economy.
@Brinster: well yes. 5 billion people were locked down no country will escape the economic damage. That doesn’t mean it’s wasn’t disproportionate. Ireland and the world shouldn’t have copied tyrannical China’s policy.
As for Swedish death rate. Yes. It’s higher. But there are 3 reasons at least.
1 Their population is bigger
2. Their nursing homes are bigger
3. the percentage of Swedes who have had the virus is bigger (we’re all going to get it vaccine will take years if it comes at all)
1) The anti-DT TDS news media never stop with their media malpractice. Most of the countries in the world that have been affected are starting to open up, many of which have been affected worse than the US, e.g. Spain. Ireland too. Youll hear no criticism from the Irish media though even though the governments response has been terrible! We are one of the worst affected countries in the world, arguable worse than US.
2) The JUrinal and other Irish rags pushed the RussiaGate hoax for years. Each week another nail goes into its coffin yet no reporting on this or apologising for a hoax they wrongly pushed. Just over the weekend, we found out from released transcripts that General Flynn was wrongly target+the Obama administration likely knew about this!
The first two paragraphs of this article suggests that Mnunchin and Kudlow have some idea what they are talking about.
Beware false premises and how this creates false news.
Still a lower death rate per head than ireland
@european liberal: You just predicted his next tweet!
Yeah, Boris said go back to work if you can, trump is reopening. The Swedish model is here as much as politicians can admit their mistakes.
Our lot, however: “We’ll revisit every 3 weeks for 15 weeks”
The perfect storm has arrived, Putin, Boris in England and Trump in the USA , you could not devise a trio of monumental ego and self obsession in a world in crisis. A world that needs objective strong rational leadership to deal with this tragic pandemic, but alas we get the devils advocates so steeped in their own self importance that they don’t have a clue how to even comprehend the seriousness of this situation. Propaganda By these idiots will be the rock we will all perish on. God help us.
@Joe M Donald: I’d rather an Irish government led by one of the trio you mentioned than any of the clowns installed over the last three decades thank you very much.
@Daniel Dunne: Then you are a fool.
@Daniel Dunne: you must have been devastated when Jackie Healy Rae left the FF party prior to the 97 GE ?
It’s like a race between trump and body’s to see who can make the most money post covid 19 and also who will have the higher deaths due to their selfish stupid ways
@Michael Patrick Newell: Did you mean ‘Borris’ in your comment?
The real problem is that this guy will have up death after death then lob a nuke at China in revenge. This IS what he will do.
@Mike McGann: even trump is not stupid enough to nuke China
@John Lyons: I genuinely
@Sean Fahey: think that you’re giving him too much credit. If Trump sincerely believed it would personally benefit him, I think he would nuke a billion people in a heartbeat as long as he believed he would benefit in some way.
Luckily he wouldn’t be allowed to. Trump is a parrot who repeats the last thing he heard from whoever is the latest person to manipulate him, if he had notions Fox and Friends would adjust national policy.
@John Lyons: I wouldn’t place a bet on that. Diversionary tactics. He’s up to something … crooked of course.
have your say