Melinda Gates called out a lack of national leadership in the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic in an interview that aired on NBC News’ Today Show this morning, offering an unusually pointed critique of the Trump administration in a high-profile national television appearance.
The comment came when Today Show host Savannah Guthrie asked Gates if she was surprised the US wasn’t better prepared for the crisis, as part of a larger discussion that touched on issues including paid family medical leave and vaccines.
“I’m both surprised we weren’t better prepared but quite honestly, I’m surprised we’ve wasted so much time, that we haven’t had leadership at the national level to get out tests in the right way, protective gear in the right way, contact tracing in the right way,” Gates said. “You know, with lack of leadership, there are 50 homegrown state solutions. And that just shouldn’t be.”
“When you see a country like Germany with national leadership, they were able to keep certain sectors of the economy open safely, keep people safe, mostly social distancing, and now start to slowly reopen based on the science,” she added. “That’s the kind of leadership we should expect as citizens in this country. And we’re not getting it. We haven’t gotten it yet during this crisis. And so you’re seeing what’s happening and it’s chaos.”
Guthrie said, “That’s pretty blunt. Do you lay the blame at the feet of the Trump administration?”
After a pause, Gates replied, “I’m disappointed in what I’ve been seeing. Yes.”
The Seattle-based foundation has pledged more than $300 million into programs to combat the spread of the disease, including an additional $50 million announced this week. It is funding and leading initiatives including the development of therapeutics, vaccines and testing programs, with a particular focus on the Seattle region and unmet needs in developing countries.
In a GeekWire webinar this week, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman said he was disappointed that the United States isn’t working in better collaboration with other nations to fight the coronavirus pandemic, but said it’s still possible to present a united front in dealing with what he calls “the ultimate global crisis.”
