Tag: Donald Trump

Whose healthcare plan will you choose in 2020?

At least in the memory of anyone alive today, we have never seen a presidential campaign quite like this one, maybe never in United States’ history.

In less than 100 days registered voters in the United States will elect their next President, possibly sooner if you plan to vote absentee or by mail.

Votes will choose from among several candidates-

  • Incumbent president, Donald J. Trump- Republican
  • Former Vice President, Joe Biden-Democrat

And a long list of third party and independent candidates, who may or may not be on the ballot in your state-

  • Jo Jorgenson-Liberarian
  • Howie Hawkins-Green Party
  • Don Blankenship-Constitution Party
  • Kanye West-Birthday Party

Campaign 2020

American presidential campaigns are always contentious, involving often widely different views on

  • the economy
  • taxes/Social Security
  • national security/defense
  • immigration
  • foreign policy
  • jobs/employment
  • education
  • crime/violence/guns
  • healthcare

And this year new issues make this campaign even more raucous than usual with debate on

  • widespread protests
  • rioting/looting
  • misuse of force by police
  • racism/reparations/justice
  • recession/jobs loss
  • evictions/food insecurity
  • business shutdowns
  • school closures
  • public health restrictions
  • overwhelmed hospitals
  • disease and deaths due to COVID-19

At least in the memory of anyone alive today, we have never seen a presidential campaign quite like this one, maybe never in United States’ history.

The candidates speak-

Earlier this year I reviewed the official websites of the Republican and the Democratic political parties and wrote posts summarizing their proposals for healthcare.

Then I visited the campaign websites of the two major party candidates for President of the United States, first reviewing their healthcare stances in general and then their views on the COVID-19 pandemic specifically.

This post contains links to all of those posts so you can easily review them as you carefully consider how you will vote this year. As I said before, I encourage you to read the entire original documents yourself, especially as there may be updates.

Through this blog I do not endorse any particular candidate; if it seems otherwise, that is unintentional and accidental.

Here is a reminder of the structure of the United States Federal government as created by the Constitution
3 BRANCHES OF U.S. GOVERNMENT
3 BRANCHES OF U.S. GOVERNMENT, FROM usa.gov, public domain

The Parties’ Platforms on Healthcare

Healthcare in the 2024 Democratic Platform: Key Points Revealed

The Democratic National Convention concluded with Vice President Kamala Harris nominated for President and Governor Tim Walz for Vice President. The new Party Platform focuses on healthcare, urging protection and expansion of affordable care and Medicaid, as well as tackling issues like gun violence and improving mental health care. Numerous policies and initiatives are detailed,…

Healthcare in the 2024 GOP Platform: Key Points Revealed

The Republican National Convention concluded by nominating Donald Trump as their candidate for the 2024 presidential election, along with a shorter party platform. The platform, “Make America Great Again,” includes 20 promises, with only two related to healthcare. Health topics are dispersed throughout the document. This post offers a brief review.

The President Candidates’ Healthcare Positions and Policies

Donald Trump’s Healthcare Achievements 2016-2020

This post reviews healthcare during Donald Trump’s first presidential term, detailing his achievements from 2016 to 2020 and the political climate surrounding healthcare policies. It discusses the impact of the ACA, Trump’s various healthcare initiatives, and his reelection in 2024 against Kamala Harris after Biden dropped out.

President Joe Biden’s Plan for Healthcare-a review

In 2021, Joseph Biden became the 46th US President, succeeding Donald Trump. In his 2023 State of the Union Address, he addressed healthcare, proposing reforms like Medicare expansion and lower drug costs. His campaign focuses on affordable, quality healthcare, pharmaceutical regulation, reproductive rights, mental health support, and personalized community health plans, with future plans for…

The President Candidates’ COVID-19 pandemic response

Donald Trump’s Actions to Combat the Coronavirus

In 2024, Donald Trump won reelection against Kamala Harris after Joe Biden withdrew. The post recounts Trump’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting his administration’s emergency declarations, funding requests, and measures to combat the virus. It emphasizes Trump’s leadership in healthcare response and economic relief for Americans affected by the pandemic.

Joe Biden’s Plan to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19)

President Joe Biden announced the impending end of the public health emergency due to the significant drop in COVID-19 deaths. The response to the pandemic involved various federal agencies led by the Department of Health and Human Services, as outlined in Biden’s 7-point plan. The plan addressed testing, healthcare, economic support, global response, and climate…

Exploring the HEART of campaign 2020

On Facebook, I share healthcare related posts from Mr. Trump’s and Mr. Biden’s pages, with updates daily.

Celebrate WOMAN SUFFRAGE: 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, August 18

If there are other presidential candidates on the ballot in your state, review their websites or social media pages. Voting and running for public office are valuable rights; participating in the process is a privilege and responsibility.

a group of lapel buttons, red, white and blue, saying VOTE

This photo and the cover photo of the White House are from the media site Lightstock.com, an affiliate which pays this blog a commission for purchases made from this link

Dr. Aletha

Donald Trump’s Actions to Combat the Coronavirus

In 2024, Donald Trump won reelection against Kamala Harris after Joe Biden withdrew. The post recounts Trump’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting his administration’s emergency declarations, funding requests, and measures to combat the virus. It emphasizes Trump’s leadership in healthcare response and economic relief for Americans affected by the pandemic.

updated November 26, 2024

I originally wrote this post in 2020 during the Presidential campaign between incumbent Donald Trump, Republican, and Joe Biden, Democrat. Trump was not reelected.

In 2024 Trump again ran for President against the incumbent Biden, who unexpectedly dropped out of the race in the summer. His Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic candidate.

Donald Trump won reelection with 50% of the popular votes to 48.4% for Kamala Harris. The electoral count was 312 to 226. (per the Associated Press).

Healthcare in a Pandemic-2020

The year 2020 looked to be historic even prior to the coronavirus pandemic, police involved shootings, riots, and Black Lives Matter protests. The USA will choose the next president, impacting the economy, security, defense, education, and healthcare.

As President, Mr. Trump heads the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government.

The Department of Health and Human Services, headed by Cabinet Member Alex Azar manages the response to COVID-19. Other Cabinet members and their Departments are involved as well.

The agencies most involved in the COVID-19 response include

  • Health and Human Services-HHS
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency-FEMA
  • Centers for Disease Control-CDC
  • National Institutes of Health-NIH
  • Federal Drug Administration-FDA
  • Small Business Administration-SBA
  • Veterans Administration-VA
  • Department of Defense -DOD
  • Treasury Department
  • State Department

The President leads the Executive Branch of the government, including all of the departments and agencies headed by the Cabinet members, including the Department of Health and Human Services.

President Trump established a Coronavirus Task Force which advises him on the medical and scientific facts, research, and treatment of COVID-19.Vice President Mike Pence chairs the task force.

In this review I’m highlighting Mr. Trump’s statements and actions, not those attributed to his “Administration”.

TIMELINE: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S DECISIVE ACTIONS TO COMBAT THE CORONAVIRUS

The following was adapted from a link that is no longer active

While Democrats play politics, the Trump Administration is working tirelessly to combat the coronavirus and provide economic relief to affected Americans:

President Trump is taking concrete actions to rapidly expand testing and guarantee any American can get tested for coronavirus for free

President Trump is taking decisive action to make sure U.S hospitals have the resources they need to mobilize against the coronavirus.

President Trump is taking critical steps to shore up the U.S. economy and help Americans economically impacted by the coronavirus.

an electron microscope image of the coronavirus
the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for causing COVID-19- photo used with permission, CDC.GOV

December 31, 2019-China reports the coronavirus to WHO-the World Health Organization.

January 6, 2020- the CDC issued a level 1 travel notice for Wuhan China, established a coronavirus incident management system for information about the virus, and two weeks later activated its emergency operations center.

January 27- The White House Coronavirus Task Force started meeting to monitor the virus and provide updates to the President. The CDC issued a level lll travel health notice to avoid all nonessential travel to China.

January 30-WHO declared coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, a global health emergency. (not in the timeline as written)

On January 31, the Trump Administration declared the coronavirus a public health emergency, announced Chinese travel restrictions, and suspended entry into the United States for foreign nationals who pose a risk of transmitting the coronavirus.

February 4- In his State of the Union Address, Mr Trump vowed to “take all necessary steps” to protect Americans from the coronavirus.

February 7- He told reporters that the CDC is working with China on the coronavirus.

February 24- The Trump Administration requested $2.5 billion from Congress to combat the coronavirus spread. On March 6 he signed an $48.3 billion bill to provide funds to federal, state, and local agencies, and $500 million in Medicare telehealth waivers. He requested a payroll tax cut bill from Congress.

He also

  • Requested low interest small business loans by the SBA
  • Deferred tax payments to the Treasury Department
  • Signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act for free testing and paid sick leave
  • Moved tax day from April 15 to July 15
  • Signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security-CARES-Act

March 31- Trump issued “30 Days To Slow The Spread” guidance to mitigate the outbreak of coronavirus.

April 2-Mr. Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to direct 3M to produce more N95 respirator masks and to help several companies-ResMed, General Electric, Medtronic- get the supplies needed to make ventilators.

April 3-Mr. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum blocking the export of N95 and other respirator masks, surgical masks, PPE gloves, and surgical gloves to ensure they are available in the U.S.; he directed FEMA to send Ochsner ( Medical Center in Louisiana) surgical gowns.

April 6- In a phone call, he discussed potential coronavirus therapies with CEOs of pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

April 12- The United States, Russia, and OPEC agreed to cut oil production and stabilize the oil market, a deal that Mr.Trump “brokered.”

April 14-President Trump halted funding to WHO, while a review of its “mismanagement” of the coronavirus outbreak is conducted. (quotation marks added)

April 16-He announced new, phased “opening up America again” guidelines, spoke with the Opening Up America Again Congressional group, and spoke with the Governors about re-opening.

By April 17, the President had declared major disaster declarations for all states and territories, a first in U.S. history

April 22- Mr. Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation suspending immigration to the U.S. for 60 days due to “the impact of foreign workers on the labor market, in an environment of high unemployment.”

By April 27, President Trump had spoken with many foreign leaders, including those of India, Italy, China, Turkey, Russia, Kenya, South Africa, Poland, Pakistan, Qatar, Ecuador, Britain, and France.

He also spoke to Republican Senators, former Vice President Joe Biden, and the state Governors.

He attended meetings with multiple business leaders including those in health insurance, tourism, retail, wholesale, supply chain distributors,and banking.

He spoke by phone with owners of groceries, restaurants, and other small businesses.

He also spoke to leaders in mental health, faith, tribal affairs, and nonprofits, including the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.

He met with energy execs from Phillis 66, Devon, Occidental, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and other companies to discuss coronavirus’ effect on the energy industry.

Mr. Trump spoke to the commissioners of major league sports organizations-MLB, NFL, and NBA, recognizing the teams’ and players’ work in their communities to combat coronavirus.

He met with military families, coronavirus survivors, and front line healthcare workers.

April 24- The President signed the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP) and Health Care Enhancement Act into law

  • $323 billion-for the PPP
  • $75 billion-for health care providers
  • $25 billion- for coronavirus testing

April 24-President Trump spoke with three other Presidents.

April 24: “Vice President Pence & members of the coronavirus held a conference call with Governors to discuss increasing testing capacity.”

On April 27, the White House coronavirus task force appeared in a Rose Garden event. The topic: “Opening Up America Again.” (from a report by CNBC)

Exploring the HEART of health

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Dr. Aletha