Donald Trump STILL won’t speak to George W. Bush or Barack Obama about coronavirus

I STILL won’t speak to George W. Bush or Barack Obama about how to deal with coronavirus crisis because we’ve done a ‘great job,’ says Donald Trump

  • George W. Bush set up intensive planning on flu pandemics
  • Obama established national security office on global health
  • Trump said Monday he connected by phone with former VP Joe Biden
  • He said he would not call Bush or Obama for advice
  • More than 10,000 American have died from the outbreak 

President Donald Trump on Monday rejected the idea of consulting with two of his predecessors for guidance on the coronavirus even as the number of Americans who have fallen to the disease surpassed 10,000.

Trump was asked at the White House whether he would seek the counsel of Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush – each of whom has extensive experience dealing with deadly diseases during their separate eight-year terms.    

‘No, not really,’ Trump responded. 

‘We’re doing a great job,’ Trump continued. ‘Hey, I inherited – we, this administration, we inherited a broken system,’ Trump said. 

‘No, not really’: Donald Trump said he will not call Barack Obama and George W. Bush to discuss the coronavirus outbreak. He said his administration was doing a ‘great job’

Trump repeated his claim that when he took over there was ‘no ammunition’ for the U.S. military, and that ‘they also gave us empty cupboards. The cupboard was bare.’

Hospitals have been slammed by the outbreak and are rushing to procure medical gear. The national stockpile is down to 10,000 ventilators, and Trump announced Monday that California would be transferring several hundred of the costly devices to states that need them.     

‘The testing system was broken and old,’ Trump complained. The administration has been faulted for failing to ramp up testing in line with other countries who have tested a much greater percentage of their populations. It isn’t possible to create a test until the virus exists, and the Chinese government only informed the U.S. about the  existence of the new coronavirus Dec. 31 of last year. 

ABC News reported this weekend that Bush became obsessed with preparing for a pandemic. ”If we wait for a pandemic to appear, it will be too late to prepare,’ he said.  

'The testing system was broken and old,' said Trump. The new coronavirus was not discovered until Dec. 31, 2019

‘The testing system was broken and old,’ said Trump. The new coronavirus was not discovered until Dec. 31, 2019

Trump said Monday there was a 'light at the end of the tunnel'

Trump said Monday there was a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’

More than 10,000 Americans have died of the coronavirus

More than 10,000 Americans have died of the coronavirus

Trump did not mention the 10,000 death milestone, although Vice President Mike Pence did

Trump did not mention the 10,000 death milestone, although Vice President Mike Pence did

Barack Obama contended with other outbreaks, including Ebola and H1N1, during his tenure. He created a special security office for global health issues

Barack Obama contended with other outbreaks, including Ebola and H1N1, during his tenure. He created a special security office for global health issues

President George W. Bush guided the nation on Sept. 11th and during its aftermath. He issued dire warnings about the need to prepare for a pandemic

President George W. Bush guided the nation on Sept. 11th and during its aftermath. He issued dire warnings about the need to prepare for a pandemic

Medical workers take in patients at a special coronavirus intake area at Maimonides Medical Center on April 06, 2020 in the Borough Park neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Hospitals in New York City, which has been especially hard hit by the coronavirus, are facing shortages of beds, ventilators and protective equipment for medical staff

Medical workers take in patients at a special coronavirus intake area at Maimonides Medical Center on April 06, 2020 in the Borough Park neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Hospitals in New York City, which has been especially hard hit by the coronavirus, are facing shortages of beds, ventilators and protective equipment for medical staff

Obama contended with the outbreak of the H1N1 virus as well as Ebola. He set up a special National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense that Trump eliminated early in his term.

Trump was asked about his predecessors after revealing that he spoke by phone with expected 2020 rival former Vice President Joe Biden.  

‘I also spoke a few minutes ago with vice president, former vice president Biden, who called and we had a really wonderful, warm conversation,’ Trump said.

He confirmed the two talked about the coronavirus. 

‘This is what we talked about. This is what everyone’s talking about. This is where they want to talk about. He gave me his point of view and I fully understood that and we just had a very friendly conversation. Lasted probably 15 minutes. It was really good. It was really good, really nice. I appreciate his calling,’ Trump said. 

Presidents in the past have consulted with predecessors during difficult times – even when predecessors came from another party.  

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