The White House daily coronavirus briefings are back. But this reboot of the spring’s hottest television series has shed the supporting cast and thrust President Trump back into his starring role, this time as more of a solo act.
The move comes as coronavirus cases are again on the upswing, especially in Sunbelt states, which is crucial to the president’s reelection. Trump has tried to move on from the pandemic to the economic reopening, touting the “great American comeback” and a looming recovery from the lockdowns, but the virus hasn’t cooperated. Over the summer, Trump’s coronavirus-related poll numbers have plummeted.
Eighty-six percent of respondents told a Fox News poll that they were concerned about the virus spreading. A majority believes the coronavirus is “not at all” under control, up 18 points in a month from 33% to 51%. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is now more trusted on handling the coronavirus than Trump by 17 points, up from 9 the previous month. The coronavirus beats the economy as the No. 1 issue facing the country, with 29% to 15%.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Trump has now fallen further behind Biden in a series of swing-state polls. The former vice president currently leads by 8.7 points in the RealClearPolitics national polling average. “Since President Trump stopped holding regular China virus briefings, his poll numbers have taken a significant hit, particularly with independents, suburban voters, and seniors, three groups that Trump needs to win in the battleground states to secure reelection,” said Republican strategist Ford O’Connell.
Trump needed to seize back control of the coronavirus narrative and use the bully pulpit to do so. “If you aren’t controlling the conversation,” said a Trump campaign source, “you are being controlled by it.” His tone has been somber, and even in the question-and-answer sessions, he has been relatively disciplined. He has thus far avoided hawking potential coronavirus cures after loose talk about disinfectants reportedly contributed to the cancellation of the first round of daily briefings.
“I want to send a message of support and hope to every senior citizen who has been dealing with the struggle of isolation in what should be the golden years of your life,” Trump said in the second briefing. “We will get to the other end of that tunnel very quickly, we hope. The light is starting to shine. We will get there very quickly. But we send our love; we send a message of love — very important. We’re with you all the way.” Seniors are a voting bloc that has shifted against Trump and toward Biden during the pandemic.
Still, Trump digresses. In one briefing, he responded to a question by extending well wishes to Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, now in custody for alleged sex offenses. Trump concluded another by saying he had done more for black people than any president with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln. He defies former White House press secretaries of both parties who told the Washington Examiner in April that medical experts should be front and center.
Conspicuous by their absence are Anthony Fauci, whose coronavirus approval rating stands at 74% in the Fox poll, and Deborah Birx, fixtures of the previous briefings. “I just spoke to Dr. Fauci,” Trump said at one briefing. “Dr. Birx is right outside.” He told reporters it was more “concise” to relay the information they gave him. “It seems to be working out very well.”
Supporters believe the administration has a compelling story to tell. “From fast-tracking a vaccine to making sure the governors have necessary supplies to delivering needed support to hot spot states around the country to even recommending masks, President Trump is leading the charge to combat the coronavirus and save American lives, but that message is not reaching many voters,” O’Connell said. “The reason is simple: Many in the national media, along with the Democratic leadership, have nefariously gaslighted the general population into thinking the bubonic plague is outside their front door and that President Trump is solely to blame.”
“His historic COVID response speaks for itself with delivering on ventilators and testing, leading the world in the amount of testing we’ve provided, therapeutics, the 13 vaccine candidates — the Moderna example that I pointed out to you,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters at a briefing. “This president’s response has been historic, and we believe his support in this country reflects that.”
