Two weeks ago, Donald Trump sat down with Chris Wallace of Fox “News” for a wide-ranging interview, during which he stated, “We’re signing a health-care plan within two weeks, a full and complete health-care plan that the Supreme Court decision on DACA gave me the right to do.”
With Barnumesque certainty, Trump promised the impossible with a straight face.
Well, it’s been two weeks, and guess what? Trump hasn’t signed any health care plan. In fact, since his interview with Wallace, he hasn’t even mentioned working on a health care plan, even during the media briefings he’s given on the coronavirus.
If you’ve ever watched a Trump speech, you know he has a penchant for saying things will happen in “two weeks” or “a couple weeks,” but they never happen within the time frame he’s specified.
Since he took office, Trump’s promised news about NAFTA, the Paris Climate Accords, factories reopening, immigration and, believe it or not, the opening of a new coal mine “in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, so many places” (which had not been permitted or even prospected) all within two week time periods from his statement.
None of them happened within the subsequent two weeks.
Trump’s “two week” default for a brand new health care plan was ridiculous for a lot of reasons, but it was also dangerous. In the midst of a pandemic, with tens of millions losing their jobs and their employer sponsored health care, making a vacant promise that he’d release a plan is not just malpractice, but also a breach of his oath to faithfully execute his office.
Less than 100 days from the presidential election, the Trump campaign has yet to release any policy proposals for his desired second term. Unlike the website for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, which has policies for more than two dozen issues, Trump’s doesn’t have a single proposal outlined.
In fact, Trump never outlined his plan for health care coverage that he told the Washington Post in January 2017 would provide “insurance for everybody.” Trump’s only health care policy has been to try to dismantle Obama’s signature Affordable Care Act through court challenges.
Unfortunately for Trump, his ability to promise anything will get done–in two weeks or otherwise–is running out. Expect him to shift from “two weeks” to “Democrats won’t do it” and “It’s not my fault.”
Remember, he’s the guy who said “I take no responsibility.” And that’s been his position for a lot longer than two weeks.