Forum Thread

Trump's Diagnosis Upends Final Sprint to Presidential Election

Reply to ThreadDisplaying 5 Posts
  • JaredS
    2020-10-02 02:22:30 PM
    Not Logged In
    Are you sure you want to delete this post?
        

    Donald Trump's diagnosis of COVID-19 sent shockwaves throughout the world, upending an already unprecedented Presidential election weeks before it will be decided. What happens next will largely be determined by how serious Trump's illness is, which we may not know for some days or even weeks. His age and underlying health issues have caused some experts to sound the alarm, but he also has access to some of the best doctors the country has to offer, so it's really anyone's guess how this will all play out.

    In the immediate short term, at a minimum, Trump's campaign events will be cancelled. Trump is currently isolating in the White House residence with the First Lady, who also tested positive. The White House insists he is in good spirits and conducting his duties from there, but I have to admit I take official statements by the White House with a grain of salt.

    In the medium term, Trump's diagnosis throws the remaining two debates between he and Joe Biden into serious doubt. From a truly political standpoint, I don't know who that benefits more or if it benefits anyone at all. Trump's first debate performance was disastrous, so I can honestly see how missing the next two could be a net positive for him, but at the same time Joe Biden will potentially have an uninterrupted month of campaigning while Trump is isolated in the White House residence. I honestly don't see how that helps Trump at all.

    Finally, what happens if, heaven forbid, Trump has a severe case? Can you imagine a scenario where tens of millions of Americans head to the polls November 3 not knowing if the person they are voting for is even capable of performing his Constitutional duties because he's gravely ill and on a ventilator? It's never happened in our nations history.

    What happens in the coming days and weeks will be solely dependent on how Trump reacts to the illness. If it's mild and he quickly recovers then we will at least likely have some resemblance of a normal Presidential election. If it's not and he becomes gravely ill then we will be in unchartered waters.

  • J.K.Logic
    2020-10-02 02:45:38 PM
    Not Logged In
    Are you sure you want to delete this post?
        
    I suspect the 2nd debate gets cancelled or at least postponed, as its on Oct 15th. That's just 13 days away and I would imagine be cutting it too close, even with a mild or asymptomatic case. But that's all I think will happen, unless as you say, it is a severe case. Then all bets are off.
  • J.K.Logic
    2020-10-02 02:53:23 PM
    Not Logged In
    Are you sure you want to delete this post?
        

    Trump, first lady experiencing 'mild symptoms' after testing positive for coronavirus

    So far reported that Trump and Melania are experiencing mild symptoms, meaning not asymptomatic. That seems to suggest a delay with the 2nd debate. But we shall see.

  • justin412
    2020-10-02 03:53:58 PM
    Not Logged In
    Are you sure you want to delete this post?
        
    J.K.Logic Wrote:

    Trump, first lady experiencing 'mild symptoms' after testing positive for coronavirus

    So far reported that Trump and Melania are experiencing mild symptoms, meaning not asymptomatic. That seems to suggest a delay with the 2nd debate. But we shall see.

    I hate saying this, but I have a hard time believing anything official that comes out of the White House. Part of me thinks they would have hidden his diagnosis had Hope Hick's diagnosis not been leaked.

    I would be shocked if the second debate goes ahead as planned, especially since this virus can take weeks to pass through someone even in the best of cases.

  • JaredS
    2020-10-02 07:59:41 PM
    Not Logged In
    Are you sure you want to delete this post?
        

    Wow. That was fast. Donald Trump is now at Walter Reid hospital for "the next few days."

Reply to ThreadDisplaying 5 Posts