President Trump's COVID-19 Treatment Reveals Unequal Burden Of The Disease

Consider This from NPR

NPR

News, Daily News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 6.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 October 2020

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

President Trump told the country Tuesday: "Don't be afraid of COVID. Don't let it dominate your life." This was in a video published after the president's return to the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. During his nearly 72-hour stay, Trump received care from top doctors and experimental treatments that are not readily available to the millions of Americans who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Marshall Hatch, a pastor of New Mount Pilgrim Church in Chicago, lost his sister to COVID-19 and says the president's message feels like an insult for families grieving in the wake of this disease.

While the vast majority of Americans don't have access to the kind of care that the president received, it's not the only example of how the pandemic is having disproportionate effects on certain groups. California Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly explains a new state rule that will tie re-opening plans to improvements in its hardest-hit communities.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	It's not quite an ad or an official White House announcement.
0:03.5	There aren't even words, just this music.
0:06.8	And the image of Marine One touching down on the south lawn of the White House in Golden Hour Light.
0:13.3	President Trump tweeted the video just hours after he was released from the hospital.
0:18.3	In it, he steps out of the helicopter behind a masked Marine.
0:22.3	Trump also wearing a mask walks up the stairs,
0:25.4	leading up to the White House balcony.
0:27.8	Then, pausing at the top, the president takes off his mask,
0:31.4	stuffs it into his pocket, and gives a thumbs up and a salute.
0:37.5	I just left Walter Reed Medical Center, and it's really something very special.
0:42.6	The doctors, the nurses, the first responders.
0:46.0	In another video that followed his return from hospitalization, Trump sent this message.
0:51.6	And one thing that's for certain, don't let it dominate you.
0:56.6	Don't be afraid of it. You're going to beat it. We have the best.
1:00.3	Even though he will keep getting medical care at the White House.
1:03.8	Even though his doctors say he's, quote, not out of the woods yet.
1:07.8	But in the video, Trump is all positivity.
1:10.8	Get out there, be careful. We have the best medicines in the world.
1:15.6	And they're all happened very shortly.
1:17.2	And they're all getting approved.
1:18.8	And the vaccines are coming momentarily.
1:22.4	Thank you very much.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.