I feel it necessary to point out not only the bias demonstrated in Thomas Brown’s letter regarding President Trump’s handling of the present pandemic, but also his regrettable inaccuracies.

First, Mr. Brown laments Trump’s lack of preparation for containing this virus, when the fault lies with his predecessors who left a depleted supply of materials needed to protect health workers against such a scourge. Trump inherited the results of their decisions, but in no way was he responsible for the dearth of supplies.

Next, Mr. Brown asserts that the President has “no respect for scientific endeavor and knowledge,” while the exact opposite is true. In reality, he has summoned a task force of the best and the brightest, the most experienced professionals in the medical field, including Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, both of whom are highly regarded and who have devoted their lives to researching and combatting disease.

In addition, he favors the use of the experimental vaccine developed by the leading university scientists to give a chance to those battling imminent death now. Contrary to Mr. Brown’s personal evaluation, the President is putting his trust in science.

Regarding Brown’s assertion that Trump’s economic efforts have been “aimed at … helping corporations and the rich,” in truth government free loans have been offered to small business owners – of whom I personally know two – to enable them to stay afloat with hope of reopening eventually.

To date (April 17), $80 million have been deposited into the checking accounts of struggling Americans, as well as direct payments of billions to farmers. These are hardly the wealthy.

Finally, Mr. Brown fears that others around the world “see us as weak,” when actually Trump’s stringent policies have been a strong message to those who have taken advantage of our generosity — bad trade deals made with China by the previous administration; China’s theft of our intellectual property; the WHO’s unconscionable support for China’s dishonesty regarding this virus; Trump’s insistence that other countries comprising NATO increase their share for their own defense, rather than relying entirely on us for protection.

These are the policies of a strong leader intent on doing what is best for America. This fortitude and tenacity has been evident for nearly four years, despite daily criticism and assault from all sides.

Furthermore, if, as Mr. Brown predicts, we “are economically perilously close to collapse,” that too is not to be laid at Trump’s feet. Brown should consider the fact that the economy was rolling along beautifully – jobless rate the lowest ever, employment the highest in decades — before China unleashed this plague upon us. Mr. Brown fails to put the onus on the proper culprit, China, and unjustifiably blames President Trump for not only the current crisis, but also deficiencies and errors attributable to the previous administration.

Donna DeLeo Bruno
Bristol