Trump: Coronavirus Is ‘Worst Attack’ Since Pearl Harbor

President Donald Trump has compared Covid-19 to the attacks on Pearl Harbor and 9/11. By invoking events that led to major military conflicts, the remarks may give an in insight into the President’s thinking and possible repercussions.

“We went through the worst attack we’ve ever had on our country, this is worst attack we’ve ever had,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday.

“This is worse than Pearl Harbor, this is worse than the World Trade Center. There’s never been an attack like this.”

“And it should have never happened. Could’ve been stopped at the source. Could’ve been stopped in China. It should’ve been stopped right at the source. And it wasn’t.”

It hardly needs stating that Coronavirus is a disease and not an attack by a foreign military, as Pearl Harbor was in  1941, or by a terrorist organization like 9/11. Nonetheless, Trump’s comments echo rhetoric from some of his right-wing allies who’ve blamed China for the pandemic.

“I view the invisible enemy as a war,” Trump went on. “I don’t like how it got here, because it could have been stopped, but no, I view the invisible enemy like a war.”

The President has recently started framing the pandemic response as a war. This is a worrying development as it comes at the same time some of his surrogates have suggested reopening the economy and simply accepting there will be more death.