‘President Trump's Coronavirus Guidelines’ Mailers Apparently Aren't Meant to Be Political
Kevin Stankiewicz, reporting for CNBC:
Painter, who has previously been critical of Trump, said he felt the decision to label the “critically important health advisory” as being Trump’s guidelines was “unwise.”
“Half the Country likes him; half the Country does not. But disease knows no party. Don’t we want all Americans to read the message that is mailed to them at substantial cost to the government?” said Painter, who added he felt the postcard was meant to serve Trump’s bid for reelection.
White House Spokesman Judd Deere rejected the notion that the postcard was at all political.
“The President has said he has no higher priority than the health and safety of the American people,” Deere wrote in an email. “It’s ridiculous to suggest that in the middle of a global pandemic the White House’s efforts to get critical information to the American people to slow the spread of COVID-19 is somehow political.”
I definitely perceived this as politically charged when I got it in the mail. In fact, I actually thought it was so on brand with Trump’s usual narcissism that I actually flipped it over to find the part where it said “Paid For By Donald J. Trump For President” or “Paid For By The Republican National Committee”, but alas, these mailers were sent out on the taxpayers’ dime.
The branding turned me off pretty much immediately, so I didn’t actually read what it said about the virus itself. So well done, White House: half the people you sent this to won’t read it because they’re immediately turned off by the glorification of Trump, and the other half probably can’t read anyway.
🇺🇸 United States: 0
🦠 COVID-19: 2