As the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to disrupt our daily lives, we urge you to practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently, stay home if possible, heed the guidance of local authorities and the CDC, and be wary of potential sources of misinformation.
In times of crisis, Americans look to our elected officials for leadership. When the health and safety of millions of our fellow citizens are at stake in a rapidly evolving situation like this, we want to be confident that our government is doing its job effectively—regardless of which political party is currently in power.
Unfortunately, President Donald Trump has demonstrated that he is dangerously unfit to lead our country in this moment of crisis. Trump’s mismanagement of this pandemic has endangered the lives of millions of Americans, and has detrimentally affected our country’s ability to respond effectively to stop the spread of Coronavirus.
Trump ignored weeks of warnings about the severity of the outbreak, made by public health experts and officials in his own administration. He downplayed the severity of the risks, claiming it would “go away” when the weather gets warmer—costing precious time for Americans to prepare. He has rocked financial markets with numerous incorrect claims. And he falsely blamed the Obama administration for the testing shortage, and continued to lie about access to testing.
The availability of widespread testing would help our healthcare providers better track and mitigate the spread of Coronavirus. It’s crucial that we continue to expand access and capacity for testing. Yet, in a press conference on Friday, March 13, when asked about the delays in Coronavirus testing, Trump stunningly stated that “I don’t take responsibility at all.”
As millions of Americans across the country adapt to this new normal, in which our public spaces close, our grocery stores face shortages, and our economy sinks—we say to you that we must find comfort, solidarity, and security in each other. We don’t know how long this will last. We don’t know how bad it will get. But we do know that by working together, we can weather this storm.
This crisis demands leadership. Donald Trump has unequivocally failed to rise to this challenge, which is why we must make sure that this November, we elect a new President who will.
Stay safe, check in on family and loved ones, and wash your hands.
Maryland Democratic Party