Obama says Trump’s response to COVID-19 has been “absolute chaotic disaster”
Former President Barack Obama has criticized Trump administration’s response to COVID-19 calling it “an absolute chaotic disaster” in a blistering critique on Friday night. He through a private call was addressing people who worked with him during his time as President at White House. Three former WH officials who were on call with Obama confirmed that this was the starkest lambasting issued yet from Obama regarding Trump’s handling of novel coronavirus disease in USA. Apart from searing comments, Obama also explained why he endorsed and urged his fellow Democrats to support former VP Joe Biden against Trump in November’s General Election.
The Fmr. President, in a 30-min phone talk with members of the Obama Alumni Association, said that Trump’s response to the pandemic pretty much reflects everything and reminds us how critical it is to have a strong leadership during a global crisis. The conversation was intended to encourage former White House staffers to rally behind Mr. Biden and support his presidential campaign.
“This election that’s coming up — on every level — is so important because what we’re going to be battling is not just a particular individual or a political party,” Obama said. “What we’re fighting against is these long-term trends in which being selfish, being tribal, being divided, and seeing others as an enemy — that has become a stronger impulse in American life.”
An audio of the speech was first reported by Yahoo News while a spokesman for former President declined to respond on the comments made by him. In a statement given to CNN, WH press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Saturday dismissed the remarks of Obama, saying: “President Trump’s coronavirus response has been unprecedented and saved American lives.”
WH also declined to directly respond to the critique made by Obama on the Department of Justice’s decision to drop charges against Michael Flynn.
In his call Obama discussing the Attorney General William Barr’s decision to drop the criminal case against Flynn said the decision suggested “the rule of law was at risk” in the US. Before, taking charge at White House, Obama questioned Trump’s conduct with Russia and also warned the Republican about dropping the case against President about Michael Flynn.
However, he uttered the strongest words for the administration’s handling of the outbreak.
“It is part of the reason why the response to this global crisis has been so anemic and spotty,” Obama said. “It would have been bad even with the best of governments. It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindset — of ‘what’s in it for me’ and ‘to heck with everybody else’ — when that mindset is operationalized in our government.”
He added: “That’s why, I, by the way, am going to be spending as much time as necessary and campaigning as hard as I can for Joe Biden.”
Obama waited long before finally endorsing his former deputy last month and pledged that he would make sure to get involved in Biden’s presidential campaign to oust Trump in the general election. His talk with Obama Alumni group was a reflection of how deeply he is involved with Democrats after leaving the office: “I am hoping that all of you feel the same sense of urgency that I do.”
