New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says Trump taught Americans what incompetence looks like


In his Democratic National Convention speech, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said the coronavirus pandemic has taught Americans a "critical lesson — how vulnerable we are when we are divided and how many lives can be lost when our government is incompetent."
Cuomo slammed President Trump and his administration's response to the coronavirus, saying it was "attacking us for months before they even knew it was here. We saw the failure of a government that tried to deny the virus, then tried to ignore it, and then tried to politicize it." New York was hit hard by COVID-19 in the spring, and Cuomo accused the federal government of watching his state "get ambushed" and "suffer" because of its "negligence."
The country's "collective strength is exercised through government," Cuomo continued, and it is "in effect our immune system. Our current federal government is dysfunctional and incompetent. It couldn't fight off the virus — in fact, it didn't even see it coming." That doesn't mean things can't turn around, though; Cuomo said America can "still rise to the occasion. We can put our differences aside and find commonality." Government and leadership matter, and both determine "whether we thrive and grow or whether we live and die," he added.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Cuomo said this is why he is backing former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. He is a "leader as good as our people," Cuomo declared. "A leader who appeals to the best within us, not the worst. A leader who can unify, not divide. A leader who can bring us up, not tear us down."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictions
Speed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new Mideast
Speed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents