Letter to the editor: Trump needs to be a better leader

It is a shame how our president downplayed the coronavirus pandemic. First it was “one person coming in from China, and we have it under control”; 15 people will get the virus and within a week it will be down to zero. Then it was, “Wouldn’t it be great to have all the churches full” on Easter Sunday.

South Korea, with a population of 51 million people, got its first case of covid-19 around the same time as America. South Korea tested 180,000 people the first week after the virus, while the United States, with a population of 326 million, tested 10,000 people. Sounds like South Korea was much more prepared than our country, and had a leader who acted promptly.

Doctors recommend wearing masks, and two minutes later President Trump comes to the microphone and says it’s voluntary and he won’t be wearing one. What kind of leadership is that?

I feel bad for the thousands of doctors, nurses, paramedics, EMTs and police officers all over the country crying for personal protective equipment (PPE). The president declared a national emergency; therefore it is his responsibility to manage the crisis and, in my opinion, he has failed miserably. He stated his biggest decision ever will be when to reopen the country. No, his biggest decision was not acting in a prompt manner at the start of this deadly virus.

Mr. President, start being a leader and not a cheerleader.

Jim Swartz

Freeport