From Texas to Covid, Trump Washes His Hands of Deaths on His Watch

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/dean-baker/114349/from-texas-to-covid-trump-washes-his-hands-of-deaths-on-his-watch

From Texas to Covid, Trump Washes His Hands of Deaths on His Watch
by Dean Baker | July 11, 2025 - 5:22am

— from the Center for Economic and Policy Research


U.S. President Donald Trump may not be very good at running things, but when it comes to shifting blame, he is truly world class. As the magnitude of the disaster in Texas becomes clearer, the one thing we can be certain of is that Trump will accept none of the responsibility.

snip//

Nearly every forecaster expected the economy to keep growing at a healthy pace through 2025. However, Trump’s tariff threats, budget cuts, and layoffs at the federal level managed to quickly end the economy’s growth streak and push it into negative territory in the first quarter he was in office.

Naturally Trump responded to the bad news on growth by blaming former President Joe Biden for giving him an “economic disaster.” In reality land, Trump was handed the best economy of any president in more than half a century, with low unemployment falling inflation, rising real wages, and a unprecedented boom in factory construction.

Probably the all time classic for Trump denying responsibility was his response to the pandemic. He made it clear that he wasn’t especially concerned about how many people got sick or died from Covid-19, he was only concerned that he not be given the blame.

snip//

The reporting on Trump’s complaint also says a huge amount about how the media adjusts its reporting to Trumpian standards. Rather than ridiculing Trump for what was obviously his own failing, it tried to evaluate the accuracy of his complaint about the stockpile Obama had left more than three years earlier.

Unfortunately, this sort of affirmative action for the son of a billionaire has been a regular feature of reporting on Trump. He routinely makes absurd and ridiculous statements which would be treated as a major scandal if they came from the mouth of any other politician, but instead are dismissed with an “Oh, that’s Trump” from the media. The idea that Trump is an adult who should be held responsible for his actions seems too difficult for many reporters to grasp.

[BoRaGard]

1. Everyone knows: It's Trump's and G.O.P. fault

totally responsible - bunch of incompetent cowards.

[rampartd]

2. " The idea that Trump is an adult who should be held responsible for his actions seems too difficult for many reporters"

reporters, voters, corporate executives. judges, repub leaders, hell dem leaders ....

if there is one thing this guy has it is privilege.

[kentuck]

3. He has already said it was leftover Biden policies to blame.

He was quick not to take any blame for this one.

[Emile]

4. Typical republican, never except personal responsibility.

Just sits on his hemorrhoidal ass and points his shit stained finger.