In Defense Of President Trump (No, Really)

Upon reading Jim Acosta's tweet, my first thought was the same as that of Walter Shaub:

The president is saying no lives matter.

— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) July 2, 2020

Alas, no. According to the White House transcript of "Remarks by President Trump on the Jobs Numbers Report," President Trump stated (beginning at 6:40 of the video below) maintained

.... We followed them, with this terrible China virus, and we are likewise getting under control.

Some areas that were very hard-hit are now doing very well.  Some were doing very well, and we thought they may be gone and they flare up, and we’re putting out the fires.  But other places were long before us, and they’re now — it’s like life; it’s got a life.  And we’re putting out that life, because that’s a bad life that we’re talking about.

But all of this suggests that workers are confident about fighting a new job....

I've added the first and last sentences only as context. Thus, speaking of SARS-CoV-2, the President stated

some (areas) were doing very well, and we thought they may be gone and they flare up, and we're putting out the fires. But other places were long before us, and they’re now — it’s like life; it’s got a life.  And we’re putting out that life, because that’s a bad life that we’re talking about.

It's a weird way of speaking but it's Trump's way of talking. Moreover, if anyone had said this, it would be a reference to the coronavirus having a life. No one else would have said this, but still.

Of course, Trump has demonstrated by word and deed that he believes American lives don't matter. (At least Black Lives Matter believes black lives matter, which is at least some people). However, the President's words today give little additional support to the recognition that, in pursuit of what he believes would be a superior gene pool, Donald Trump wants people to die. Stay tuned.

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