President Donald Trump reimposed tariffs, to take effect August 16, in response to what Washington called a "surge" in aluminum imports from Canada over the past year. AFP/JIM WATSON
The news that US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, have both tested positive for coronavirus seems to have brought out the
worst in some people, as Trump haters spew their bile and wish the president the worst.
No matter what the politics, or even personal attitudes, are of a world leader like Trump, they are human
and deserve basic courtesy.
Yet, it is ironic that Trump, who has been downplaying the seriousness of Covid-19 – and accused, therefore, of causing many premature deaths of Americans – should prove so eloquently that not only is the disease real, it is no respecter of rank or ideology.
If his admission of being infected helps at least some of his ardent supporters to curb their reckless social behaviour, then it will have at least some positive impact.
The First Couple’s diagnosis may also take the winds out of the sails of the conspiracy theorists who believe the virus is a complex hoax.
Cynics are saying the timing of the test is fortuitous for Trump, coming as it does only weeks before the crucial presidential election.
When British Prime Minister Boris Johnson contracted Covid-19, his popularity rose markedly after he survived it.
Perhaps Trump is hoping for something similar.
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
