4 ms·

> Former US president Donald Trump admitted to playing down the risks of the coronavirus to “reduce panic”. The entire premise of this is absurd.

• alkonaut 5y ago
  What’s “this”? that this Trump statement actually made any difference?
  • d23 5y ago
    That Trump's motivation for literally anything is anything but pure, raw self-interest. It had nothing to do with a fear of panic and everything to do with the number of ways he perceived it in his self-interest to continually deny this was even happening. He gaslit an entire nation. Judging by the comments I've seen here lately (not yours), I'm really starting to question the company I'm keeping here.
    • twofornone 5y ago
      >That Trump's motivation for literally anything is anything but pure, raw self-interest. You do realize that this is unprovable speculation shaped entirely by the filter of media coverage, which is clearly much more favorable to the biden administration? If our institutions are willing to mislead regarding covid, why would you trust them about any other politically charged subject?
    • alkonaut 5y ago
      Agree though I don’t think it’s mutually exclusive. Trump doesn’t like the look of panic because it would make him look bad. Or make the stock market tank, or whatever. I don’t for a second think that his desire to avoid panic was because that would be better for the country (I honestly don’t even think it occurred to him that that would be a valid excuse for downplaying).