Johnson used COVID-19 to his advantage. Trump may struggle to do the same
Posted 8h
Both US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have tested positive to COVID-19.(Reuters: Peter Nicholls)
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The United Kingdom's ties with the United States are known as the "special relationship" — a supposedly unbreakable bond.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump now share their own special relationship.
They both know what it's like to be infected by a virus they once publicly downplayed.
But while Mr Johnson tried to use his near-death experience to recalibrate his approach and unite the UK around a common cause, that's not a credible option for Mr Trump.
"Boris Johnson used it as an opportunity to talk about the seriousness of the situation," Thomas Gift, director of the Centre on US Politics at University College London, told the ABC.
"That's more difficult for Donald Trump.
"He'll be loath to acknowledge … any possibility that he was wrong or should have been more careful."
'It will disappear'
US President Donald Trump leaves the White House after he tested positive for COVID-19.(AP: Alex Brandon)
Mr Trump has admitted downplaying the risks of COVID-19.
"I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic," he told journalist Bob Woodward.
He did this even though he knew the virus was "deadly".
That was in March, but his opinion hadn't shifted much by September.
"It is going away," he said.
"You'll develop like a herd mentality," he claimed — inaccurately referring to the concept of herd immunity, which according to his own coronavirus advisor, Anthony Fauci, would result in a "totally unacceptable" death toll.
Mr Johnson was also accused of understating the threat posed by COVID-19.
In February, as thousands of cases were being recorded overseas, he told Britons not to worry.
Boris Johnson was accused by some critics of a slow response to the coronavirus pandemic.(Reuters: Frank Augstein)
"People have every reason to be confident and calm about all that kind of thing … all the coronavirus, and any threats from disease," Mr Johnson said.
He then went on a 12-day working holiday.
He also missed five meetings of COBRA, the government committee which handles national emergencies.
'I continue to shake hands'
In March, Mr Johnson boasted of shaking hands with coronavirus patients, the same day the government's scientific advisors warned against it.
"I was at a hospital the other night where I think there were a few coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody, you will be pleased to know, and I continue to shake hands," he said.
"People obviously can make up their own minds but I think the scientific evidence is … our judgment is that washing your hands is the crucial thing."
A spokesman said he hadn't seen the updated advice and took other precautions.
While Mr Johnson might have been careless, Mr Trump was contemptuous of the protective measures taken by his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.
He mocked him for staying home as the virus spread, accusing him of sleeping in his basement.
And he ridiculed him for the way he wears a mask.
"I don't wear masks like him. Every time you see him, he's got a mask," he said during last week's debate.
"He could be speaking 200 feet away from you and he shows up with the biggest mask I've ever seen."
Just a few days later, the President tested positive.
He released a home video, declaring he was still able to lead the country from self-isolation at home.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he has developed mild symptoms of coronavirus
10 days later, when his condition hadn't improved, he was taken to the hospital for "routine tests".
"It could have gone either way," Mr Johnson later said.
"The [National Health Service] has saved my life, no question. It's hard to find the words to express my debt.
"It is the best of this country. It is unconquerable. It is powered by love."
He also declared he was "too fat" and needed to lose weight to improve his own health outcomes.
Mr Johnson's Government has been widely criticised for its slow response to the pandemic, inadequate testing facilities and shortages of protective equipment for frontline workers.
His illness had little effect on his government's polling numbers, but it did provide a powerful message about the seriousness of the virus.
"Boris Johnson has received his fair share of criticism for mixed messaging and also for not necessarily demonstrating the strongest leadership since that time," Dr Gift said.
"But at least for a period, I think there was a sense of unity that emerged.
"Both out of sympathy for Boris Johnson, but also a greater understanding and recognition of the seriousness of the crisis."
Trump says he 'learnt a lot' about COVID-19
The virus is unpredictable, but it looks like Mr Trump won't suffer the same near-death experience his British counterpart did.
Still, he says it's been an educational experience.
"It's been a very interesting journey. I learned a lot about COVID," he said in a video released on Twitter.
"I learned it by really going to school. This is the real school. This isn't the 'Let's read the book school,' and I get it."
Whatever he learnt remains a mystery, but he's unlikely to admit to any mistakes.
"It undermines his main message that the United States is turning a corner," Dr Gift said.
"He has, since the very outset, belittled the importance of the virus, suggested that basic safety protocols like social distancing and mask-wearing weren't essential and made fun of Democrats for taking it seriously.
"A typical leader might use this as an opportunity to rally the public … to ensure that everybody does follow these basic social norms [to] generate a culture of public health.
"But I don't think that Donald Trump is able to do that."
Posted 8h
Share
The United Kingdom's ties with the United States are known as the "special relationship" — a supposedly unbreakable bond.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump now share their own special relationship.
They both know what it's like to be infected by a virus they once publicly downplayed.
But while Mr Johnson tried to use his near-death experience to recalibrate his approach and unite the UK around a common cause, that's not a credible option for Mr Trump.
"Boris Johnson used it as an opportunity to talk about the seriousness of the situation," Thomas Gift, director of the Centre on US Politics at University College London, told the ABC.
"That's more difficult for Donald Trump.
"He'll be loath to acknowledge … any possibility that he was wrong or should have been more careful."
'It will disappear'
Mr Trump has admitted downplaying the risks of COVID-19.
"I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic," he told journalist Bob Woodward.
He did this even though he knew the virus was "deadly".
That was in March, but his opinion hadn't shifted much by September.
"It is going away," he said.
"You'll develop like a herd mentality," he claimed — inaccurately referring to the concept of herd immunity, which according to his own coronavirus advisor, Anthony Fauci, would result in a "totally unacceptable" death toll.
Mr Johnson was also accused of understating the threat posed by COVID-19.
In February, as thousands of cases were being recorded overseas, he told Britons not to worry.
"People have every reason to be confident and calm about all that kind of thing … all the coronavirus, and any threats from disease," Mr Johnson said.
He then went on a 12-day working holiday.
He also missed five meetings of COBRA, the government committee which handles national emergencies.
'I continue to shake hands'
In March, Mr Johnson boasted of shaking hands with coronavirus patients, the same day the government's scientific advisors warned against it.
"I was at a hospital the other night where I think there were a few coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody, you will be pleased to know, and I continue to shake hands," he said.
"People obviously can make up their own minds but I think the scientific evidence is … our judgment is that washing your hands is the crucial thing."
A spokesman said he hadn't seen the updated advice and took other precautions.
While Mr Johnson might have been careless, Mr Trump was contemptuous of the protective measures taken by his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.
He mocked him for staying home as the virus spread, accusing him of sleeping in his basement.
And he ridiculed him for the way he wears a mask.
"I don't wear masks like him. Every time you see him, he's got a mask," he said during last week's debate.
"He could be speaking 200 feet away from you and he shows up with the biggest mask I've ever seen."
Just a few days later, the President tested positive.
He released a home video, declaring he was still able to lead the country from self-isolation at home.
10 days later, when his condition hadn't improved, he was taken to the hospital for "routine tests".
"It could have gone either way," Mr Johnson later said.
"The [National Health Service] has saved my life, no question. It's hard to find the words to express my debt.
"It is the best of this country. It is unconquerable. It is powered by love."
He also declared he was "too fat" and needed to lose weight to improve his own health outcomes.
Mr Johnson's Government has been widely criticised for its slow response to the pandemic, inadequate testing facilities and shortages of protective equipment for frontline workers.
His illness had little effect on his government's polling numbers, but it did provide a powerful message about the seriousness of the virus.
"Boris Johnson has received his fair share of criticism for mixed messaging and also for not necessarily demonstrating the strongest leadership since that time," Dr Gift said.
"But at least for a period, I think there was a sense of unity that emerged.
"Both out of sympathy for Boris Johnson, but also a greater understanding and recognition of the seriousness of the crisis."
Trump says he 'learnt a lot' about COVID-19
The virus is unpredictable, but it looks like Mr Trump won't suffer the same near-death experience his British counterpart did.
Still, he says it's been an educational experience.
"It's been a very interesting journey. I learned a lot about COVID," he said in a video released on Twitter.
"I learned it by really going to school. This is the real school. This isn't the 'Let's read the book school,' and I get it."
Whatever he learnt remains a mystery, but he's unlikely to admit to any mistakes.
"It undermines his main message that the United States is turning a corner," Dr Gift said.
"He has, since the very outset, belittled the importance of the virus, suggested that basic safety protocols like social distancing and mask-wearing weren't essential and made fun of Democrats for taking it seriously.
"A typical leader might use this as an opportunity to rally the public … to ensure that everybody does follow these basic social norms [to] generate a culture of public health.
"But I don't think that Donald Trump is able to do that."
