Donald Trump provided an update on the coronavirus on March 25, 2020, with Vice President Mike Pence and Doctors Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx. – White House
- At 47.3% of favorable opinions, the popularity rating of Donald Trump climbed 3 points in a week and reached its highest level.
- Faced with the coronavirus, the American president puts on the cap of the “commander in chief”, with a daily television briefing very followed.
- With nearly 100,000 cases of Covid-19 in the United States, however, the national union could falter if the crisis worsens.
–
From our correspondent in the United States,
Every day for two weeks, it’s the same ritual. Donald trump speaks behind the desk usually occupied by the White House Press Secretary. Infectiologist Anthony Fauci and Vice President Mike Pence by his side, he praises “fantastic progress” against the coronavirus and assures Americans that the economy “Will come back even stronger”. And while the United States became Thursday the country most affected by Covid-19, with nearly 100,000 confirmed cases, the American president continues his ascent in the polls.
Seven months before the presidential election, his popularity rating, at 47.3% of favorable opinions, according to the RealClearPolitics average, is at the height of his mandate – and at the same level as that of Barack Obama at the same stage in 2012 It remains to be seen whether the rebound will last, with a health crisis shaking the world economy.
At 47.3% of favorable opinions (RealClearPolitics average), the popularity rating of Donald Trump is at the highest of his mandate, with a rebound of 3 points in ten days #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/8DIczDbZ2K
– Philippe Berry (@ptiberry) March 27, 2020
“He is surrounded by medical experts, and it is not by chance”
Deprived of his political meetings “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) by the social distancing imposed by the coronavirus, Donald Trump finds with his daily briefings what he loves most: prime time cameras and large audiences. On Wednesday, his daily update was followed by 12.5 million Americans on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, and many more including free channels, radio and the Internet.
LIVE: Press Briefing with Coronavirus Task Force https://t.co/Z8tK225cN6
– The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 26, 2020
Half-scripted and half-improvised, this “Trump show”, punctuated by approximations on the figures, or even misinformation (he notably wrongly claimed that chloroquine had been approved by health authorities), is often controversial. Public radio NPR in Seattle even decided to stop broadcasting them live to be able to fact-check his remarks. But former Republican party spokesperson Doug Heyes says the ubiquity pays off: “Every day, the public sees images of the president surrounded by medical experts. It is not by chance, and it is expressed in the unconscious of voters. Combine that with the traditional effect of national unity in times of crisis, and its rise in the polls is no surprise. “
Professor of political science at the University of Washington, Chris Edelson relativizes: “This little rebound [d’environ 4 points en deux semaines] is typical and much lower than the 35 point increase for George W. Bush after September 11. Trump remains below 50% in favor. “
Joe Biden is struggling to exist
For two months, Donald Trump played down the importance of the pandemic. On February 26, he assured him: “We have 15 people [infectées], in a few days, it will be close to zero. “A prediction that goes wrong a month later, with 100,000 cases, more than 1,500 deaths, and a situation that could become catastrophic in New York.
Opposite, Joe Biden, likely future opponent of Donald Trump in November, has struggled to take advantage of it. He did improvise a TV studio in his living room, but it doesn’t really have the same cachet as the official White House podium. “For him, it’s a balancing act. It cannot be too critical in real time but must avoid disappearing, ”analyzes Doug Heyes.
With a planet at a standstill and a US economy probably already in recession, Donald Trump’s main argument for his re-election was shattered. With more than 3.3 million new unemployment benefit claims in a week, he warned that confinement is too long could “destroy” United States. And accused the media of “being the main force pushing for the country to remain closed as long as possible, hoping that it handicaps [ses] electoral chances. “
Impatient, the order in chief spoke of a possible lifting of restrictions for Easter Sunday, April 12. Faced with outcry among scientists, he swore Thursday that the decision would be made on a case-by-case basis in each state by the governors, depending on the health situation. Doug Heyes believes that only retroactively will we know whether the coronavirus has benefited Donald Trump or has torpedoed his chances: “Ultimately, voters will have to judge whether its actions have improved the situation or made it worse.” crisis. “
–
