Democracy Dies in Darkness

What exactly has Trump done — or not done — to receive such harsh criticism for his coronavirus response?

Analysis by
Staff writer
March 27, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. EDT
President Trump speaks to reporters recently, part of his daily White House briefings about the virus. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

President Trump didn’t cause the coronavirus, as he often reminds people in his daily briefings. And crisis management is difficult for even the most experienced and prepared leaders.

So why is he receiving so much criticism about his government’s response to it, from mayors and governors to former vice president Joe Biden and public health officials? A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that even as he receives higher-than-average approval ratings for him, 58 percent think he was too slow to respond.