Publicly, Trump has said the coronavirus is a "hoax" and "fake news," but he or at least his staff reportedly consider the hoax to be a threat to Trump's own health.
White House staff who spoke to the Washington Post says they're taking extra steps to ensure that Trump -- a senior citizen over the age of 70 and at the greatest risk to die from the coronavirus -- does not personally contract the virus.
Trump’s personal doctor, Sean Conley, now attends some White House meetings on the coronavirus, tracking where new cases are being reported, one official said.
The White House is also being cleaned more regularly and people with flu-like symptoms are being urged not to come into the complex, with the added warning that they may infect the leader of the free world, officials said. Changes to Trump’s travel schedule are also being contemplated, after public health officials warned that elderly Americans should reconsider flying on airplanes and avoid large crowds.
Trump, 73, had no campaign rallies scheduled as of Sunday evening, marking the first time this year that there were no such events on the books.
Unfortunately for most Americans who Trump is telling there's no threat, they do not have personal doctors and a cleaning staff that can screen everyone they meet with.
If it's true that Trump is personally concerned about himself but not the wider public, that's easily explicable if it even needs to be said at all. Trump does not personally want to die, but projecting false confidence to protect his poll numbers and the value of his own properties in the hotel and travel industry is clearly more important to him than anything else.
Trump's self-centered priorities have always been clear, but an epidemic puts it in very stark relief.
Trump told attendees at his last political rally that this is all a "hoax" perpetrated by Democrats.