And in the United States, the national media which is overwhelmingly hostile to the president, (who openly requites their contempt), are naturally trying desperately to find grounds to attack him and reduce his chances of re-election in November. At least here there is a real public health crisis; it is not a complete fiction like the previous episodes, and in this round, Trump botched the early public relations, seeming complacent, and rather ignorant. More serious than Europe’s maladroit performance has been the belligerent dishonesty and ineffectiveness of the Chinese government. China will regret this serious provocation of the United States, a country much more economically and militarily formidable than China and with political institutions that are trustworthy and democratically organized, however sleazy and vulgar American politics may often be. The coronavirus will pass, Trump will come through it all right; America will not forget China’s treachery and China will have reason to regret it.

Source: National Post March 13, 2020 14:48 UTC