Coronavirus response would be better if Senate had removed Trump, NC congresswoman says
The federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic would have been better if the Senate had removed President Donald Trump from office during his impeachment trial, U.S. Rep. Alma Adams said Wednesday.
Adams, a Charlotte Democrat, voted to impeach Trump on two articles in December in the Democrat-led House of Representatives. Trump was acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate on Feb. 5.
There are more than 200,000 confirmed cases in the United States and more than 4,000 people have died as a result of COVID-19. In North Carolina, there are around 1,600 cases and about a dozen deaths. Mecklenburg County, which Adams represents much of, has the most cases in the state with more than 440.
Trump outlined models Tuesday that estimate between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans could die from the virus this year.
“I’m getting to the age where I don’t have time to mince words: If the Senate had removed President Trump in January, I believe our country’s response would have been swifter, more competent, and would have saved lives. President Trump has demonstrated that he’s incapable of leading the country during a crisis, and his inaction has cost lives,” Adams, 73, said in an emailed response to a series of emailed questions about the coronavirus and Congress’ response.
Had Trump been removed from office, he would have been replaced by Vice President Mike Pence. Pence is leading the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force.
U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, an Advance Republican, replied to an Adams tweet about Trump’s response to the coronavirus, writing: “Mecklenburg County has 444 cases of COVID-19, which would have been preventable had China not lied, and the first reaction is to take political cheap shots. That’s not helping anybody.”
Trump defends his response
The virus originated in China, has spread across the globe and been particularly devastating in Italy and Spain. Trump initially downplayed the impact and potential spread of the virus in the United States.
The nation was slow to test for the virus, hurting efforts at containing infected people. Trump said earlier this month that he takes “no responsibility” for the lapse in testing. Asked to grade his response, Trump said he would give himself a 10 out of 10.
The president often points to his decision to ban travel from China in late January for slowing the disease in the United States. Trump’s order applied to foreign nationals who had visited China in the last 14 days. It did not stop Americans who had been in China from returning to the country.
Trump, after suggesting the nation’s economy could open back up by Easter, extended federal guidelines on social distancing through the end of April. On Tuesday, he said the nation should be prepared for “a very painful, very, very painful two weeks.”
Trump said Tuesday that the impeachment “probably” grabbed some of his attention, but said he didn’t think his response would have been any different had he not been impeached.
“I don’t think I would have done any better if I had not been impeached. I don’t think I would have acted any differently, or I don’t think I would have acted any faster,” Trump said.
Trump enjoyed a bounce in the polls for his response, which include daily on-camera press conferences from the White House. Several surveys showed more Americans approved than disapproved of his handling.
However, a Wednesday poll from Politico/Morning Consult had some poor numbers for Trump. The poll found that 61% of registered voters think Trump was not prepared for the outbreak. The poll found 47% percent of voters feel the administration is not doing enough compared to 40% who think it is.
Republicans have pointed to impeachment as a distraction that was happening at the same time as the virus was spreading globally. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Tuesday that impeachment “diverted the attention of the government because everything every day was all about impeachment.”
Adams: Congress gave ‘swift, bipartisan response’
In the last few weeks, Congress has passed three bipartisan coronavirus-related packages designed to help find a vaccine, help unemployed workers and boost an economy largely shut down to stop the spread of the virus. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, for example, instituted a stay-at-home order that closed all non-essential businesses.
Outside of removing Trump, Adams said, “I don’t know if Congress could have done more — you’ve seen a swift, bipartisan response that’s moved faster than the usual speed of Congress. Perhaps we could have used the power of the purse to procure PPEs (personal protective equipment).”
Personal protective equipment like gloves and masks are in high demand, especially for health care workers and first responders who come into contact with people with the virus.
“You’ve seen Governor Cooper lead with a calm demeanor and a steady hand, and you’ve seen local governments rise to the challenge,” Adams said. “The Administration’s response, however, has been lacking; the statements coming out of the White House are generally unhelpful and often untrue, and their timid response has cost lives.”
Several members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus. Adams said she was tested and it came back negative.
She said she recently leaned how to use Zoom for video conference calls and she and her staff are practicing social distancing.
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