Why Trump's "millions would have died if it wasn't for us" argument is so infuriating.

[Bleacher Creature]

Of all the things that bug me over his handling of this crisis, this one bugs me more than most. Trump is essentially taking the estimate based on no social distancing at all -which easily could have exceeded 2 million - and taking credit for reducing that number, even though he has been undermining stay at home and shelter in place directives from the beginning! Hell, if it was up to Trump those restrictions would have been lifted by Easter, which was three weeks ago.

Again, I know that there are so many other outrageous things that he says - including bragging about almost 70K dead Americans - but this was just eats at me every time I hear him make it.

[SoonerPride]

1. He takes credit for what the governors did. The Feds NEVER issued a stay at home order. EVER.

But that's what he always does.

Take credit for the success of others and accept no responsibility for his fuckups.

[Laelth]

5. +1 n/t

-Laelth

[subterranean]

7. Same way he always takes credit for the Veterans Choice Act, which Obama signed into law.

He did that again yesterday at his "town hall meeting."

[Chainfire]

2. You had to know that was coming

The numbers that will be the most meaningful will be those before and after his demanding the country open back up.

[agingdem]

3. trump is the kind of moron

that will get his ass sued for $22 million, settle at $20 million and then brag he won...

[unblock]

4. it's obvious when there's literally every other country in the world to compare

we're the worst or among the worst any way you look at it.

and, of course, he's basically arguing that we'd have 2 million deaths if we acted like there was no problem -- while he's advocating that we all act as if there's no problem!!

[Hav]

6. I don't think he based his numbers on anything real

A few weeks ago, there was talk about 100-200k possible deaths and repub commentaters asked provocatively whether Dems would admit that Trump had done a great job if there would be fewer than 100k deaths because they were so sure it would be just like the normal flu. I think 200k deaths was a guess what could happen with no real actions.
Now, we are already at around 70k and a recent study came out that soon expects 3000 deaths per day due to less restrictions. He's blowing up worst case scenarios so that 150k deaths look like nothing. I don't think many expected millions of deaths and certainly not at this point in time.

[keithbvadu2]

8. Trump's baseline is 15 people and going down toward zero.

Trump's baseline is 15 people and going down toward zero.

First it was one person from China and then it was 15 people and going down toward zero.

That's what you said.

Everything above that is Trump's personal death toll.

'Totally under control' (you) and 'contained' (Kudlow)

And then you ignored it with high praise and optimism to make yourself look good.

And then let it grow uninhibited.