Dangerous times demand great leaders step up.

How very unfortunate for this nation that Donald Trump is not such a man. When a nation is fearful, looking for courage, direction and above all honesty, Donald Trump concerns himself with his television ratings, with accusations that health care workers are stealing vital equipment, and complaints that the media doesn’t give him credit for all the good he does.

What an incompetent, whiny disgrace of a president he is.

Surely even his most ardent supporters can see through his pretenses. His evasions, flip-flops and lies have mushroomed in the weeks since the U.S. confronted the coronavirus. First, as the pandemic began its rseacjd into this country, Trump assured us everything was under control. As the virus surged out of control, he refused to issue guidelines for the public and washed his hands (figuratively at least) of responsibility for inadequate preparations. He tweeted insane instructions which he quickly changed. His refused to accept the warnings of scientists and health care authorities because “I know best.”

The catastrophic results are pouting in, and they reveal that to his core Donald Trump lacks leadership, lacks knowledge, lacks humanity and cares only about himself and his re-election. Why, for instance, did he say he wanted federal guidelines relaxed and business back to normal by Easter then have to recant after advisors told him he would thereby be responsible for thousands of deaths which could doom his reelection.

Donald Trump acted out of self-interest, as always, and accepted that advice. But it seems clear, over and over, that his primary concern is for the economy, not people. If the economy tanks, he knows he will not be elected again.

And, as further evidence of that, consider this: his administration is rolling back Obama-era regulations requiring auto manufacturers to increase mileage in new cars by eliminating pollution requirements. More pollution is acceptable because it MAY lead to lower costs for new cars and will free automakers of costly rules. Yet his administration also admits that their own calculations show more people will die from pollution with regulations trimmed.

Is there any other way to read that than as Trump’s concern for manufacturers’ trumping concern for people?

At moments like this, history calls for great leaders. Lincoln. FDR. Names that will never be spoken in the same breath as the insignificant and inept Donald Trump.