Biden Slams Trump On Coronavirus Testing, Says White House Failing To Keep Americans Safe

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden Monday demanded to know why President Trump and anyone with whom he comes into contact is tested daily for the coronavirus but insists such widespread testing is unnecessary for the rest of the nation.

In an op-ed in the Washington Post, Biden raised the question after former President Barack Obama sharply criticized Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and lawmakers began making plans to take over coordination of the coronavirus response in the absence of definitive White House action.

“If Trump and his team understand how critical testing is to their safety — and they seem to, given their own behavior — why are they insisting that it’s unnecessary for the American people?” Biden asked.

Public health experts have said widespread testing coupled with contact tracing is the only way to contain the virus and reopen the economy safely. They also say testing is far short of even minimum targets.

The COVID-19 Tracking project said nearly 9 million tests have been conducted since the U.S. outbreak began with more than 1.3 million coming back positive. Harvard researchers have said the U.S. should be conducting at least 900,000 tests a day to contain the virus, which has killed nearly 80,000 Americans.

Trump said Friday blanket “testing isn’t necessary” as more members of the White House staff began testing positive, and daily tests were ordered for the president and anyone with whom he comes into contact. Vice President Mike Pence also is being tested daily.

Biden said instead of focusing on what needs to be done to reopen the economy as safely as possible, Trump has left it to the nation’s governors to make those decisions so that he can deflect blame from himself.

“He hopes to split the country into dueling camps, casting Democrats as doomsayers hoping to keep America grounded and Republicans as freedom fighters trying to liberate the economy,” Biden wrote, calling the tactic “childish.”

He continued: “It’s been more than two months since Trump claimed that ‘anybody that wants a test can get a test.’ It was a baldfaced lie when he said it, and it still isn’t remotely true. If we’re going to have thriving workplaces, restaurants, stores and parks, we need widespread testing. Trump can’t seem to provide it — to say nothing of worker safety protocols, consistent health guidelines or clear federal leadership to coordinate a responsible reopening.”

Biden warned the economy will not get back to normal until Americans are convinced the threat is over.

“The Trump administration could focus on producing and distributing adequate testing and protocols that conform with the guidance of public health experts; doing so would speed up the reopening process considerably and make it a whole lot more effective. The administration is fully aware that this is the right path, too — after all, the president and his staff are now reportedly receiving daily tests. They knew exactly how to make the Oval Office safe and operational, and they put in the work to do it,” Biden said.