With coronavirus raging unchecked in the U.S. and the federal government seemingly caught in paralysis, one must wonder about the priorities of the man in charge. Under several national laws, President Trump has the power to declare a national emergency. He did exactly that when looting the funding for military families and housing to build his racist border wall. However, when it comes to a pandemic that threatens the life and safety of millions and the entire national economy, he drags his feet on declaring an emergency that would give him the flexibility to deal with many of the issues. While a national emergency would certainly be helpful, it would undercut the President's message that "there is nothing to see here" when it comes to the coronavirus.

One of the authorities that the President has that can help him in the time of an emergency is the Stafford Act. Presidents have routinely used this is past crisis to extend their authority to help the country respond to things such as hurricanes and other natural disasters. What is interesting is that the man who would king and seeks near-dictatorial powers would ordinarily rush to proclaim an emergency because it give him more authority. However, when it threatens the fictional rosy story that he tells, he hesitates even though it will save lives.

What an Emergency Declaration Could Do

An emergency declaration will mean many things if it is declared. For starters, it means that the President can tap the Disaster Relief Fund to help governments in their response efforts. It would mean up to $40 billion in funding. It would also mean that government can be excused from having to follow some laws and regulations that govern how it buys certain goods and services. In other words, it is the emergency declaration that frees up the resources to deal with the problem and allows the federal government to act quickly.

Compare this to President Trump's conduct when he wanted a wall that Mexico supposedly was going to pay for. When given authority by a statute to raid other vital funding only if he declared an emergency Trump gleefully took it. So far, the conservative courts have backed up his emergency declaration.

As far as Trump is concerned, the only emergency is his shrinking chances of reelection, and every decision that he makes is viewed through that prism because four more years in the White House is likely his best chance of staying out of prison. Trump's entire thesis depends on the issue of winning. For him, the scoreboard is the Dow Jones Industrial Average because it is something that can be measured in dollars and cents. There is almost now other way for Trump to show that he is winning. The second he loses, the aura of invincibility is pierced and Trump is a goner. He knows that, so he must keep up his veneer no matter what. A national emergency undercuts his narrative that the almighty ruler has conquered and defeated the coronavirus.

What Would Barack Obama Have Done?

One only has to close their eyes for a second to imagine what the government response would have been if Barack Obama were still in the White House. It does not take much imagination to understand that Obama's response would likely be the exact opposite of Trump. The 45th occupant of the White House fashions himself to be Obama's polar opposite. In times like this, we feel the start difference between the two presidents in terms of their ability to put politics aside and handle a crisis.

In the meantime, Congressional leaders like Chuck Schumer are pleading with President Trump to declare an emergency. Larry Kudlow dribbles out and teases information in his capacity as Economic Advisor to the President. The mere fact that Kudlow seems to be the point man for the White House evidences the fact that Trump views this an an economic challenge as opposed to a public health emergency. Even after Trump seemed to indicate that he understands the gravity of the situation, no emergency declaration is forthcoming. At the same time, billions of dollars are spent on a racist wall in the name of an emergency while millions of Americans are threatened with a critical illness.

Being president is an issue of priorities. The coronavirus has made it crystal clear to Americans exactly what Donald Trump's priorities are. November cannot come soon enough.