And before daily coronavirus press briefings were curtailed, Trump co-opted them as freewheeling, virtual campaign rallies. It’s a kind of civic vandalism he’s inflicted on the office.”For Trump, sometimes the message seems more important than the policy. Meanwhile, Trump played a supporting role, at best, in negotiations to produce the four bipartisan bills enacted so far to address the pandemic. Despite some tensions and frustrations, Birx and Fauci insist Trump listens to their advice, even if he doesn’t always heed it. While critics see Trump’s hyper-focus on public relations as a detriment, Jason Miller, a former Trump campaign adviser, said it is evidence of savvy leadership.

Source: Washington Post May 17, 2020 15:08 UTC