Recent discussions have raised questions about job losses, the pandemic’s impact on employment, and claims regarding energy policies during Donald Trump’s presidency. This post aims to provide a personal, but comprehensive perspective on these topics, drawing on various sources for a well-rounded understanding.
Job Losses and the Pandemic: It’s true that when Donald Trump left office, there were 3 million fewer jobs than when he began his term. However, it’s crucial to contextualize these figures. According to CNN, the dramatic job losses occurred primarily during the pandemic shutdown, resulting in over 22 million jobs disappearing. This context underscores the global nature of the economic challenges faced during Trump’s term, challenging the notion that he solely tanked the economy (“CNN Facts First”). All I know is in 2020, I was on track to retire in 2025. After Biden took office I was putting $300.00 a month into my retirement and loosing $400.00 per month. I would have enough in my retirement fund to retire in 2052. I had to stop contributing to my retirement all together for a while. I now have to pay a financial advisor to manage my funds as I am unable to short stocks and have limited access to stocks and futures in my plan, however, a financial advisor does have access to more funds and can short sell on my behalf. So now I am on track to retire in 2027. I am convinced that if Donald Trump would have been reelected, I would be having my retirement party in less than one year from today. It will most likely be October of 2027 when I can clean out my office and say goodbye to the 9-5 forever.
Energy Policies and Market Dynamics: Allegations of a deal with Saudi Arabia affecting U.S. oil wells have been refuted by the claim that the surge in oil supply was a result of market dynamics. In January 2020, U.S. crude oil production reached a peak of 12.8 million b/d, but the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic led to a drop in demand, causing a decline in crude oil prices. This prompted operators to shut in wells and reduce production (“EIA Today in Energy”).
What’s Driving Low Gas Prices? A Global Oil Glut, JANUARY 17, 2019 at 11:28 AM ET,
HEARD ON MORNING EDITION, Camila Domonoske points out how Russia and Saudi Arabia were conspiring to reduce production to drive oil prices up, but under pressure from President Trump they held production levels to counter Iran’s threat to reduce production. 10 months later the U.S. oil production would peak at 12.8 million b/d. Saudi Aramco went public with an IPO on December 19, 2019, raising a record $25.6 billion by selling three billion shares. Saudi Aramco was said to want to become the “Walmart of Oil” on an interview on a different NPR radio broadcast. I am sure this is easily searchable. Clearly, this was not of President Trump’s doing.
Trump’s Handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic:
List from Trumps archives:
1. Took early action to cut off travel from China
2. Built the world’s leading testing system from nothing
3. Enacted mitigation measures to slow the spread
4. Mobilized public and private sectors to secure needed supplies
5. Took action to protect vulnerable Americans
6. Launched effort to deliver a vaccine and therapeutics in record time
7. Provided support to workers and businesses
8. Paved way for reopening to get America working again
9. Surged resources to hot spots as they arose
10. Confronted China as origin of the virus while Democrats and media cowered
While the Trump White House archives highlight actions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic critics argue that the management was lacking. Trump’s statements about potential treatments, including disinfectants and light, were widely criticized for their lack of scientific basis. However, Donald Trump never actually said to ingest Bleach. Here is the direct quote: “So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light — and I think you said that that hasn’t been checked, but you’re going to test it. And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way, and I think you said you’re going to test that, too. It sounds interesting. And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that.”
The claim to drink disinfectants came from comments by Joe Biden, not Donald Trump The Austin American-Statesman’s conclusion was: Biden said that Trump said drinking bleach could help fight the coronavirus. Trump did not specifically recommend ingesting disinfectants, but he did express interest in exploring whether disinfectants could be applied to the site of a coronavirus infection inside the body, such as the lungs. We rate Biden’s claim Mostly False.
I remain unconvinced by the accusations of Donald Trump as a president. As far as Donald Trump as a person, well Donald Trump speaks before thinking at times, is clearly not a politician or stateman, but it is my belief that the founding fathers wanted few lifelong politicians and more average American’s with little or no experience in politics to hold the reigns of the country. Navigating these intricate issues requires a nuanced approach. By considering the global impact of the pandemic, market dynamics, and governmental responses, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced during Trump’s presidency. Analyzing a variety of sources helps paint a clearer picture of the multifaceted economic landscape during this period. I encourage people reading this to do the same research to counter what I have written as a personal expression of Free Speech as protected by the First Amendment. If you feel I don’t have the right to express my thoughts and opinions, then convince me that I don’t have this right by using the Maxim of the Constitution of the United States of America.