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Putting aside the mechanics of who infected whom: The outbreak of COVID-19 at the White House is Trump’s doing.
Call it the Trump cluster. The president’s cavalier approach to this virus created no shortage of unsafe environments—environments for which he, as a leader, bears responsibility, my colleagues Olga Khazan and Russell Berman argue:
“This is what happens when a president is in denial about a global pandemic, and acts accordingly.”
Now Trump is leaving the hospital to return to the White House, once again putting his staff at risk. Here are a few things to keep in mind tonight:
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Trump didn’t try to keep his own people safe. Instead, he displayed a “reckless disregard … even for his closest aides and donors,” David A. Graham argues.
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And he’s coming home to them. “Perhaps no one has more exposure to the first family than the roughly 100 members of the residence staff,” Elaine Godfrey and Adam Harris report.
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The White House still seems unsafe. Our reporter Peter Nicholas visited the grounds on Friday, and saw aides chatting maskless.
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Meanwhile, Amy Coney Barrett’s preelection confirmation could be in jeopardy. A Rose Garden celebration turned potential super-spreader event may cost Republicans crucial Senate votes, Russell reports.
One question, answered: What is remdesivir, the new drug Trump is receiving as part of his treatment plan?
