Obviously the guy wasn't prepared for this level of pandemic because he's an egomaniacal optimist--he always looks on the bright side because things have always gone his way. So by his standards, I would say his messaging was very much predictable: "This is no problem, we're the greatest nation on earth, this will be no problem, believe me, that I can tell you," then went to "We're prepared like no nation one earth, we've got the greatest economy in history, believe me, that I can tell you," and when the inevitable outbreak finally arrived and tanked our stock market it become "We're going to destroy this thing, wipe it out, wipe it off the face of the planet, we're the greatest country on earth, and then our economy is going to be booming greater than ever, believe me, that I can tell you."
If anything, I give the guy credit for actually admitting, finally, that this is a crisis. I wasn't sure he was capable of doing that. However, I definitely do not agree with his "MASSIVE, IMMEDIATE" response when stories began to break coming out of China. We all know how this story goes from past experiences with the Middle Kingdom and its history of filth and plagues. The Donald brags that he shut down travel with China within three weeks. I would've demanded it in the first week. And I would've demanded a total, absolute shut-down of all travel into the U.S. from any Asian country, and that includes American citizens abroad. By the following week I would've banned all international flights and vessels from entering the country, period.
Now, due to the nature of geopolitics that's simply not possible. No leader is going to court international outrage. But had we done that, the U.S., at least, wouldn't be where it is today.
As far as I'm concerned, if catching the virus is inevitable then I've got more than enough vodka, lime sparkling water and fine Dominican, Nicaraguan and Cuban cigars for my extended exile at home. Moreover, I'm in fucking love with this bullshit "stimulus" package that both Republicans and Democrats seem to be in favor of, with (Shit)t Romney proposing giving every American citizen $1,000 to go buy shit and stimulate the economy. Free money? Yes, I can. I'm gonna blow my government check on fine white wines and fancy California Zinfandels, cheeses, Italian meat trays, Moet, Rocky Patel cigars, expensive dark chocolates and a premier membership on Pornhub. Then I can spend my three weeks quarantine propped up at my computer desk, wrapped in a comforter, shivering and shaking and aching and feverishly masturbating until the pretty nurse in hazmat suit comes by to take my anal temperature and give me the all-clear to follow her home.