Friends,

This week, we found out that multiple servicemembers who recently travelled with President Trump — including his military aide and valet — tested positive for COVID-19.

It was only a matter of time. President Trump has shown a complete disregard for basic health precautions. And he is far too selfish to think about the safety of the people around him (including our military members who Trump has reportedly called “losers.”)

He demonstrated that yet again when he made Secret Service agents drive him around in a hermetically sealed car so he could wave to his supporters. While most of us would know that we should NOT be in close proximity to anyone if we have an infectious disease, Trump forced government employees to put their health and safety on the line all so he could wave to some supporters.

This is outrageous behavior coming from the President of the United States. And it gets worse.

When Trump left Walter Reed Medical Center, he tweeted that Americans shouldn’t be afraid of COVID-19 and shouldn’t let this virus “dominate [their] lives.” He is all but encouraging Americans to throw caution to the wind and abandon basic health measures like masks and handwashing. It’s not just irresponsible, it’s negligent. More Americans will die because of these statements.

Let me be clear: We should all be afraid of COVID-19. It is a deadly virus that has already killed more than 210,000 Americans and hospitalized many, many more. This is no joke.

And now, Trump keeps changing his mind about whether to approve critical COVID-relief checks. He is tanking our economy by refusing to negotiate with congressional Democrats. Instead, he wants the Senate to focus on confirming his nominee to the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are without jobs and families are struggling to keep food on the table.

He’s making hardworking Americans wait for COVID relief while trying to jam through a Supreme Court nominee before the election — as he’s in court actively trying to rip healthcare (and protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions) away from those very same Americans. That’s what his priorities are.

Trump’s irresponsible behavior isn’t just a threat to himself. It’s a threat to all the men and women around him — and to our entire nation.

Because foreign powers were watching as our Commander-in-Chief entered the hospital and several other Senators and top military officials tested positive or were forced to quarantine. The very people who are supposed to lead our nation through a crisis are now incapacitated due to COVID-19 — and bad actors will be sure to take advantage. This is an incredibly dangerous opening.

I will leave you with this:

Good leaders don’t lie to their citizens. They don’t put the lives of their staff or supporters at risk. And they certainly don’t encourage people to go out without masks on during a pandemic when we know masks save lives.

The American people deserve a president who actually cares what happens to them, rather than one who only cares about what happens to him.

The American people don’t deserve Donald Trump, we need Joe Biden. And we can elect him if we vote in the next 26 days.

Thank you for reading. Keep up the hard work.

All my best,

Tammy Duckworth