[teejers1]

I will go with USA hubris couple with stubbornness.



Trump likely did believe the "China virus" thing was deadly...IN CHINA.

He incorrectly assumed that the virus would likely stay in China and/or Asia.

He then made a bet that it would not impact the USA in any meaningful way and therefore made a confident declaration that everything would be fine in the USA.  It was a reasonable bet given recent virus history.

If correct, downplaying would avoid an election year distractions and would keep the stock market soaring to new heights.

So all logical enough IMHO.   Not super presidential, but in the predictable realm for President Trump.



However, he also refuses to admit he made bad calls.  (Remember the hurricane path map with a sharpie mark)

By late April it was pretty clear he bet incorrectly, but no way he'd admit that.

So instead he doubled down on the downplay path and stated to Woodward (and presumably others) that downplaying was still the correct strategy.



I would wish for a different approach, but I understand how this path became our reality.

I pretty much totally agree with this analysis. Trump was perfectly capable of believing the virus was deadly IN CHINA, but that it wouldn't make it to the USA. As you point out, that wasn't totally absurd. Several recent "serious" virus outbreaks didn't. However, the "presidential" thing to do would have been to pass the word to States what the threat MAY be and make a plan to respond if the virus did become significant in the US. He could have done that without risking his bull market. Unfortunately, it apparently didn't occur to him to do so.

I've now read the additional responses and still remain confused.  Trump tells Woodward in February words to effect of "I know the virus is serious but I'm downplaying it to avoid panic."  In rebutting critics who said he should have revealed this info sooner, Woodward replies:  it wasn't until May that he was satisfied "that Trump's comments were based on reliable information."  

WTH does that mean?  Either Trump said it or not in February.  What further "reliable information" did Woodward think he needed . . . that the virus was, in fact, serious?  [If so, that was already out there, certainly way before May.  But really, that's not even "the story" - the story is Trump believed A but told People B.].

Again, Woodward's explanation strikes me as a complete non-sequitur.  

Just come correct and say book sales and November.  
At least then you don't put yourself in the President's company by coming across as a self-interested liar (just the former!).

[teejers1]

I will go with USA hubris couple with stubbornness.



Trump likely did believe the "China virus" thing was deadly...IN CHINA.

He incorrectly assumed that the virus would likely stay in China and/or Asia.

He then made a bet that it would not impact the USA in any meaningful way and therefore made a confident declaration that everything would be fine in the USA.  It was a reasonable bet given recent virus history.

If correct, downplaying would avoid an election year distractions and would keep the stock market soaring to new heights.

So all logical enough IMHO.   Not super presidential, but in the predictable realm for President Trump.



However, he also refuses to admit he made bad calls.  (Remember the hurricane path map with a sharpie mark)

By late April it was pretty clear he bet incorrectly, but no way he'd admit that.

So instead he doubled down on the downplay path and stated to Woodward (and presumably others) that downplaying was still the correct strategy.



I would wish for a different approach, but I understand how this path became our reality.

I pretty much totally agree with this analysis. Trump was perfectly capable of believing the virus was deadly IN CHINA, but that it wouldn't make it to the USA. As you point out, that wasn't totally absurd. Several recent "serious" virus outbreaks didn't. However, the "presidential" thing to do would have been to pass the word to States what the threat MAY be and make a plan to respond if the virus did become significant in the US. He could have done that without risking his bull market. Unfortunately, it apparently didn't occur to him to do so.

I've now read the additional responses and still remain confused.  Trump tells Woodward in February words to effect of "I know the virus is serious but I'm downplaying it to avoid panic."  In rebutting critics who said he should have revealed this info sooner, Woodward replies:  it wasn't until May that he was satisfied "that Trump's comments were based on reliable information."  

WTH does that mean?  Either Trump said it or not in February.  What further "reliable information" did Woodward think he needed . . . that the virus was, in fact, serious?  [If so, that was already out there, certainly way before May.  But really, that's not even "the story" - the story is Trump believed A but told People B.].

Again, Woodward's explanation strikes me as a complete non-sequitur.  

Just come correct and say book sales and November.  
At least then you don't put yourself in the President's company by coming across as a self-interested liar (just the former!).