Everything is “great” in the world of Donald Trump. Great jobs done, great people, great companies. In his briefing Sunday on the coronavirus pandemic Trump used the word “great” 45 times.

  He said “I think great leadership is really working well,” and “The way we’re going to win this war is with great logistics.” 

  As the United States took the lead as the country with the most cases of the coronavirus, things were still looking “great” to the President. He has a great secretary of state, and a great vice president. Closing China was a “great thing to do,” even though the toothpaste was out of the tube by the time he did it. He said, “We think by June 1st, a lot of great things will be happening.”

  In the end, he said, “We’re going to have a great victory.”

  That great victory, according to medical projections, may come at the cost of 100,000 to 200,000 lives in the United States. Donald Trump says the high number of cases is the result of a great testing program rather than the possibility that the virus is seriously out  of control.

  On its current trajectory, by one projection, the US could have 2,300 deaths in a day by April 15^th.

  But in Donald Trump’s world of self-promotion, nothing he touches is anything but great. He promoted his hotels and restaurants as the greatest in the world and so is his performance as President. Saying it makes it true.

 As hospitals across the country sound the alarm about the lack of ventilators to save the lives of coronavirus patients, Trump said, “The fact is we’ve done a great job of delivering.” When they complain about the lack of masks, gloves, and gowns, he suggests that hospitals are hoarding or even that someone is stealing them. It couldn’t be that his government is failing to deliver.

  When things are not “great” for Trump they are “incredible.” He used that word 23 times Sunday. He said of his political critics, “I want them to appreciate the incredible job we’re doing.” 

  “Incredible work done” by “incredible men and women” will produce “incredible results.” When it’s over, we will all “rise to incredible new heights.”

  Superlatives unchecked by truth are the mark of a leader who serves his image rather than his country. What is most important is not that he leads, but that he is believed to be a leader. While the pandemic climbs to its apex, Donald Trump has at various times claimed that he has the situation under control and that he gives himself a 10 out of 10 for his performance. He said he takes no responsibility for the slow response of government.

  Instead, things are “fantastic.” People have done a “fantastic job.” General Motors has “done a fantastic job” while they gear up to produce life-saving ventilators.

  Rather than respond with action, Trump has personally insulted governors who have questioned his claims of great performance. He called Washington Gov. Jay Inslee a “snake” and refers to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as “Half Whit.” 

  Trump responded with, “Look, I respect everybody, but I feel I have an incredible team and I think we’re doing an incredible job. When you look at the job we’re doing, and all you have to do is look at the approval numbers on the job we’re doing. I think we’re doing an incredible job.”

  Now isn’t that just great.

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