Trump’s coronavirus delusion

As tens of millions of Americans remain stuck at home in self-isolation, the country’s politicians are busy sniping at each other over who is at fault for a epidemic that Dr. Anthony Fauci – Trump’s coronavirus expert – predicts could kill up to 200,000 Americans. It’s a story far more interesting and potentially calamitous than the normal tale of Republicans and Democrats pointing fingers at one another (although there is plenty of that too). America’s federalised system of government is at war with itself.

Take President Trump, the man at the very top of the system. Ducking responsibility when something goes wrong and hogging all the credit when everything goes right is standard operating procedure for this president. That he has spent weeks and weeks promoting himself in public as a strong and decisive leader during this crisis was to be expected. What is surprising, however, is the degree to which Trump genuinely believes his administration is passing this test with flying colours.