In failing to react quickly to the coronavirus, Donald Trump’s blunder rivals that of General Maurice Gamelin, commander of the French Army at the start of World War Two.
Shortly before Germany invaded France, Gamelin received intelligence reports the Germans were headed toward the Ardennes forest. Convinced the Ardennes could not be penetrated, Gamelin disregarded what he was told. The Germans burst through the Ardennes and took Paris five weeks later.
Like Gamelin, Trump didn’t see facts that were right in front of him. The difference is, in denying the virus was a threat, Trump was blinded by his own self-image. To acknowledge the coronavirus threat meant necessarily to acknowledge the economy—Trump’s alter-ego—might tank, and he is incapable of seeing anything that might reflect badly on him.
Trump can’t lead because to lead means to serve others, and he has no sense of others. His deficit is more deeply rooted than politics. It’s based on his instinct to look out for himself only, and this means denying anything that might make him look bad. Trump will put the American people at risk to save his self-image.
If you want to lead, you have to ask questions and listen. Gamelin demonstrated how denying the existence of a threat puts people at risk, as Trump did for over a month.
Trump scoffed at the threat of the coronavirus. “We have it totally under control,” he said on January 22. “It’s one person coming in from China. We have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.” He continued to deny the severity of the threat in February. And now we’re at battle stations—and on the defensive.
If you want to lead, you have to take care of your people. Military officers are taught to take care of their troops—ensure they’re well trained, fed, housed, getting paid on time, etc.
Trump doesn’t care about people, a point he illustrated on March 6 when said he didn’t want a cruise ship to dock in San Francisco because of how it would reflect on him. “I like the numbers being where they are,” said Trump. “I don’t need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn’t our fault.”
If you want to lead, you inspire, especially in times of darkness. Look to Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, a Marine Corps general, to see how it’s done. Surrounded and outnumbered by Chinese forces at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War, Puller told his men something to the effect of, “The enemy has us right where we want them. We can shoot in every direction.” (There are lots of variations about what he said.)
The best Trump can do is stumble through a canned speech—as inspiring as nails being dragged on a chalk board.
If you want to lead, you show concern for your people and you don’t ask them to do anything you wouldn’t do. Puller was known to setup his command posts close to the front lines. He wanted to be in the thick of the fight and for his men to know he was with them. What matters, says General Colin Powell, is the personal example you set.
The best Trump can do is talk about the stock market coming back one day.
If you want to lead, you acknowledge what people are feeling. After former president George H.W. Bush died, his speechwriter, Jennifer Grossman, spoke about “his innate sense of empathy.” Self-absorbed, Trump is incapable of relating to others’ fear.
If you’re inclined to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, ask yourself the two questions military service members would ask when assessing leadership. Would you be willing to go into combat with him? Would you trust him with your life?
It’s probably a good thing Trump dodged the Vietnam War with medical deferments. There’s no telling how much harm he could have created for his own troops in combat.
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Jack D’Aurora writes for Considerthisbyjd.com
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Also published on Medium.
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