A crisis has been thrust upon this president, much like secession was thrust upon Abraham Lincoln, the Great Depression upon Herbert Hoover, and 9/11 upon George W. Bush. The country is not going to judge the president because of this, but they will judge him on how he responds to it.
That is the ground upon which the 2020 election is going to be fought.
To win re-election, the president must give the country confidence that he is mobilizing the full force of the federal government. He can leave nothing on the table. If the people judge, after the dust has settled, that Joe Biden — the presumptive Democratic nominee — could have done a better job, Trump will lose.
Do not underestimate the intelligence of the electorate. They know this is going to be bad. They are not looking for a miracle cure. They are looking for vigor and effectiveness. President Trump must provide that.
