Kamala Harris Weighs in on Trump’s Coronavirus Response: ‘He Failed to Protect the American People’

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris is taking a swipe at President Donald Trump over his response to the coronavirus pandemic ahead of his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night.

Harris spoke in Washington and argued Trump’s leadership, from the onset of the pandemic, has led to deadly consequences.

“👤Donald Trump has failed at the most basic and important job of a President of the United States. He failed to protect the American people. Plain and simple,” Harris said in a speech at George Washington University.

She added, “Trump showed that we in the legal profession would call a reckless disregard for the well being of the American people.”

Watch her comments below:

Harris slammed Trump for his “reckless disregard” of the effects of the pandemic on the lives of Americans, the economy, communities of color, and children.

She explained Trump never “appreciated” the oath he took to protect Americans.

“It’s his duty. It’s his obligation to protect us, and yet he has failed miserably. Here’s the thing, 👤Donald Trump’s incompetence is nothing new,” Harris said.

She continued, “That has always been on full display, but in January of this year, it became deadly.”

Harris and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden voiced their support for a nationwide mask mandate during a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, on Aug 13, as IJR previously reported.

During an interview with ABC News, Biden was pressed on whether he would implement a shutdown, as IJR previously reported. He said he would “be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives” and he would “shut it down.”

On Aug. 26, the United States reported at least 1,193 new coronavirus related deaths and 44,779 new cases. As of Thursday afternoon, the total number of cases has reached more than 5.8 million, while the death toll stands at 180,352.