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U.S. NEWS DIARANSON 7 OCTOBER 2020

Supporters mirror Trump’s rosy projection of virus infection

(AP) — As an infected As women supporting Trump wearing a Trump face mask,
President Donald Trump gathered at an office building a precaution she said she al-
urged Americans not to in Canton, a battleground ready took before Trump's
fear the virus that has area in the state's northeast, diagnosis. She too saw the
killed more than 1 million few wore masks. president's infection as inevi-
people worldwide, many They sat closer than the rec- table.
of his supporters were al- ommended six feet apart. "Anybody could get it. I could
ready in sync with that They posed for photos with get it," Burke said.
message. a life-size cutout of the presi- Rick Zirpolo, a Reno busi-
dent and a giant mural of a nessman who eschewed a
In interviews with Republi- bald eagle wearing a "Make mask outside, said he had no
can voters at Trump events America Great Again" hat, qualms with the way Trump
and campaign offices, very and chanted "four more has portrayed or confronted
few saw the president's illness years!" the deadly threat.
as a cautionary tale. None They prayed for the presi- "From day one, I've thought
said they would change their dent and First Lady Melania the whole virus has been
personal approach to masks Trump, who contracted the overplayed and used as a po-
or distancing, and many ex- sures do work contain the and dismissed expert advice disease along with others in litical tool," he said.
pressed a confidence that the spread of the deadly virus. It's on mask wearing and social the White House. Zirpolo praised the president
disease was less dangerous also angering family mem- distancing. On Tuesday, he "I pray and know the presi- for briefly leaving the hos-
than advertised. bers of those who have died. compared the virus to the dent's positive mindset com- pital over the weekend for a
In Ohio, a "Women for But for many of Trump's seasonal flu, suggesting it bined with his faith in Jesus drive-by to wave to support-
Trump" group gathered in- supporters, the president was was something that should be is what will help him pull ers, despite his infection. And
doors — many maskless and merely adopting an attitude "learned to live with." through this," Parsons said. he said Trump was right to
not distanced — to pray for they expect, and they them- In fact, COVID-19 has prov- It's unclear exactly how leave the hospital Monday to
the president's recovery. In selves reflect, when it comes en to be a more potent kill- Trump got infected. He has return to the White House.
Nevada, a Reno businessman to the pandemic. er than the flu, particularly traveled steadily for weeks "I think it's outstanding be-
dismissed the threat of the They view Trump's infection among older people, and has for his reelection campaign, cause it shows his commit-
pandemic as "overplayed." as almost inevitable. Some shown indications of having sometimes holding events ment to the nation," he said.
Nearby, another Trump were amazed he'd made it long-term impacts on the indoors, where experts say Across the country, in New-
backer shrugged off any sec- this far before getting sick. health of younger people it the virus is more likely to berry, South Carolina, Scott
ond thoughts about having "It's October and he's just infects. spread. The White House Gardner, a teacher and coach,
cheered at a Trump campaign now getting it," said 18-year- Trump acknowledged to required testing for anyone felt differently. He didn't
event last week as part of a old Taylor Adams, a first-time journalist Bob Woodward in close proximity to the blame the president for hav-
maskless crowd. voter, at the women's meeting that he "wanted to always play president, but masks and so- ing contracted COVID-19,
"I think most of us have in Ohio. Adams even com- it down" because he did not cial distancing practices were given its pervasive nature and
reached the realization that, mended the president for not want to cause panic. Among lax. Even now, masks at the ease of transmission.
at some point, we're prob- contracting the disease soon- many supporters, that ap- White House are a matter of But the 50-year-old who
ably going catch it, and have er. "I think that he's definitely pears to have worked. Trump "personal choice" except for supported Trump in 2016
to deal with it anyway," Ken going to pull through. But voters interviewed this week National Security Council and planned to again this
Gray, a county commission- I'm not surprised that he did were almost blase about their staffers, who are required to year, hoped the president
er from Dayton, Nevada, get it eventually." president's health scare, de- wear them. would change his behavior.
shortly before the president The comments were a tes- scribing it as an unavoidable Trump's supporters don't The experience should serve
returned to the White House tament to the power of part of his work and travel view these practices as irre- as a "wakeup call" to em-
after three days of treatment Trump's messaging, widely schedule. sponsible and were largely ploy more social distancing
for COVID-19 at Walter seen as misleading by public "I don't find it surprising. The quick to dismiss the level of and masking, especially in a
Reed National Military Med- health experts. Throughout president has spent much of risk involved. crowd.
ical Center. the pandemic, the president's the year around the country, Kathy Burke, a Reno retiree "I guess it should be an eye
Trump's "don't be afraid" public portrayal of the virus with supporters, campaign- who dropped by her lo- opener," said Gardner. "But
takeaway is infuriating public has been rosier than reality. ing for another four years," cal Trump campaign office if you're going to get out of
health experts — who note He's routinely brushed off said Ohio resident Brenda Monday afternoon to pick your basement, you're going
that basic prevention mea- the severity of the outbreak Parsons, 58. up more campaign signs, was to have a chance to catch it."

National security advisor: Russia must stay out of election

(AP) — White House na- had no plans to do anything understood that message, and
tional security adviser of that nature," O'Brien said. hopefully they'll stay out of
Robert O'Brien said Tues- O'Brien said Russia was hit it."
day the United States will with sanctions following its Senior Trump administration
not tolerate any election interference in the 2016 elec- officials have been eager to
interference from foreign tion that he hopes will be a focus more on China in dis-
countries. deterrent to other countries. cussing election interference,
O'Brien said he told his However, there has already asserting that Beijing is the
Russian counterpart, been evidence of interference more potent danger.
Nikolai Patrushev, to "stay by Russia, China and Iran, Career intelligence officials
out" of the November O'Brien said, as well as other say China is a major espio-
election and that there countries that he declined to nage concern. But there is
would be severe conse- name. bipartisan consensus, includ-
quences for any country ing in a Republican-led Sen- denigrate Democratic nomi- more than 200 organizations,
that violates that direc- "Free and fair elections are ate intelligence committee nee Joe Biden. including political parties and
tive. the cornerstone of a democ- report, that Russia directly Microsoft released a report consultants.
racy, and we're not gonna tol- interfered in 2016 as it tried last month that found the Most of the infiltration at-
O'Brien spoke to reporters erate any foreign adversary or to help President Donald same Russian military intel- tempts by Russian, Chinese
after delivering remarks at a foreign government getting Trump defeat Democrat ligence outfit that hacked and Iranian agents were halt-
national security summit in involved," he said about his Hillary Clinton. the Democrats in 2016 has ed by Microsoft security soft-
Salt Lake City. meeting with Patrushev Fri- This year, intelligence offi- attempted similar intrusions ware, and the targets were
"The Russians said that they day in Geneva. "I think they cials say, Russia is working to into the computer systems of notified.