Donald Trump is supposed to be in quarantine.

• But Sunday evening — in a publicity stunt reminiscent of his Bible-groping photo op at a church across the street from the White House back in June — the Superspreader in Chief took the presidential motorcade on a joyride so he could bask in the adoration of some MAGA faithful assembled on the streets outside the hospital he was rushed to by helicopter after testing positive for the coronavirus.

• (At least he didn’t deploy federal troops wielding batons and tear gas to clear his path this time.)

• It’s important not to lose sight of one simple if confounding truth: Instead of doing everything possible to safeguard his well-being — and, in turn, to avoid the myriad national and geopolitical ramifications that come into play when the health of the president of the United States is in question — Trump spent the past nine months willfully ignoring basic precautions, like mask wearing and social distancing.

• As a result of his own hubris and narcissism, Trump is now afflicted with COVID-19, which has killed 210,000 Americans and counting.

Trump’s ego-stroking excursion put the lives of the Secret Service agents who are required to travel with him — who now must quarantine for 14 days themselves — at risk. The Washington Post quotes one agent as saying, “He’s not even pretending to care now.”

As one doctor at Walter Reed put it: “That presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of COVID-19 transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures. The irresponsibility is astounding.”

In leaving the presidential suite at Walter Reed, Trump may also have needlessly exposed other patients and staff at the hospital.

Tell Donald Trump:

Apologize to the Secret Service agents, other patients, and hospital staff you needlessly and recklessly endangered. And then follow the advice of doctors and public health experts.

Thanks for taking action.

Stay safe.

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

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