If Joe Biden is right about 1 thing, it's Trump's handling of the pandemic
On the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Joe Biden presented the most obvious and convincing case against President Trump — the undeniable fact that if Trump wins re-election, America will remain in the coronavirus sandpit. "Just judge this president on the facts. Five million Americans infected by COVID-19. More than 170,000 Americans have died," said Biden. "This president, if he's re-elected, you know what will happen: cases and deaths will remain far too high. More mom-and-pop businesses will close their doors, and this time for good." Yup.
For the first time at the DNC, Biden emphasized that there will be no economic recovery until the pandemic is controlled, and America is an international laughingstock. "We will never get our economy back on track, we will never get our kids safely back in schools, we will never have our lives back, until we deal with this virus," he said, correctly. "The tragedy of where we are today is that it didn't have to be this bad. Just look around — it's not this bad in Canada, or Europe, or Japan, or almost anywhere else in the world." Biden then outlined a sketch of a plan to contain the virus: a rapid build-out of containment systems, putting scientists back at the forefront of federal messaging, a national mandate for mask-wearing in public, and so forth.
It remains to be seen whether a President Biden would effectively follow through on these promises. But it is simply inarguable that he is correct about Trump. Our current president is a miserable failure, and if he wins re-election Americans are going to continue to suffer horribly.
Subscribe to 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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Ryan Cooper is a national correspondent at TheWeek.com. His work has appeared in the Washington Monthly, The New Republic, and the Washington Post.
-
Baltimore bridge disaster: Who is going to pay and how?
Today's Big Question Politicians, legal experts, and the insurance industry are all grappling with the financial fallout of America's worst infrastructure tragedy in years
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Melting polar ice is messing with global timekeeping
Speed Read Ice loss caused by climate change is slowing the Earth's rotation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Stick guitar
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
It's not really about Biden's brain — unless it is
Talking Points Depending on who you ask, the renewed focus on the president's mental acuity is an election-year distraction, a legitimate point of concern, and sometimes both
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The politics of music: should political rallies use well-known songs?
Talking Point The Smiths star Johnny Marr is latest musician to object to use of his music at a Donald Trump rally
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Cop 28 verdict: are climate summits working?
Talking Point Global leaders are not fully committed to averting the climate crisis, say critics
By The Week Staff Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated