Trump, COVID-19, and the War on Expertise

Abstract

In times of crisis, the American public looks to the president for leadership that will usher the country successfully to the other side of troubled times. There is a long history of presidential actions to lead the nation successfully through times of crisis. Abraham Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War preserved the Union, just as Franklin Roosevelt’s leadership during both the Great Depression and World War II restored the nation toward a future of peace and prosperity defeating threats to both the economy and security at home and abroad. Currently, the public looks to President Donald Trump for leadership through the COVID-19 global pandemic, which is presenting a direct threat to the health and economic security of the nation. This article will examine the leadership of Donald Trump throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the focus will be on Donald Trump’s relationship with advisors and the extent to which he is using their shared expertise both for informing the public and in crafting policy responses to COVID-19.