Subdued Trump finally promotes mask and mitigation measures as Covid-19 ravages America

WASHINGTON: A chastened US President Donald Trump finally began vigorously promoting mitigation measures against coronavirus, including mask-wearing and social distancing, after the United States recorded 1000 deaths in a single day for the first time since May 29 in a upsurge of the pandemic across much of the country.
After weeks of disdaining masks, waving away the coronavirus saying the pandemic will one day disappear, and generally adopting a lackadaisical, even cavalier attitude on the issue by holding political rallies, Trump acknowledged on Tuesday that "It will probably unfortunately get worse before it gets better." Pulling a mask out of his pocket at a White House briefing, he said he himself was "getting used to the mask" and "whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact."
It was a totally different tune and tone from the subdued U.S President as he returned alone to the White House podium for a coronavirus briefing, after weeks of abandoning the exercise after initially boasting of his "high ratings" rather than its effectiveness. In the weeks since, he had mused about whether he looked good or looked presidential in the mask and held political rallies that were seen as an invitation to spread the virus. Amid reports that he was not even attending meetings of the Task Force and tensions with Dr Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert who is now reviled by the Trump base, the US President was literally forced back to the lectern after surveys showed public disapproval of his handling of the pandemic.
Reading mostly from a prepared statement, Trump still managed to self-destruct during the few questions that he took in the 25-minute appearance (brief compared to the two-hour farces in the early days of the pandemic). Asked about the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell, the socialite who is facing federal charges of helping Jeffrey Epstein recruit, groom and sexually abuse girls, Trump said he hasn’t been really been following the matter too much, but "I just wish her well, frankly."
"I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach, and I guess they lived in Palm Beach," he continued, adding. "But I wish her well, whatever it is."
The kind words for an alleged sexual predator shocked critics who wondered what prompted him to go there and use the turn of phrase he used for felons such as Roger Stone and Paul Manafort who he later helped free from prison sentences. "She has the goods on him. He is signaling 'please don’t talk.'" said Anthony Scaramucci, a former Trump aide who has now turned critic.
The U.S President meanwhile continued to described the coronavirus as a "China virus," earning a rebuke from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who characterized it as a "Trump virus."
"I think with the President's comments today, he recognized the mistakes he has made by now embracing mask-wearing and the recognition this is not a hoax, it is a pandemic that has gotten worse before it will get better because of his inaction. And, in fact, clearly, it is the Trump virus," Pelosi said on CNN.
"If he had said months ago, let's wear masks and let’s socially distance instead of rallies and whatever they were, then more people would have followed his lead. I think a good deal of what we have suffered is clearly (because of) the Trump virus," she added.
But commentators said it was better late than never. Many Republican governors and right wing Trump allies are coming around to accepting masks and social distancing after taking his word that the pandemic was a Democratic hoax and it would magically disappear.