Trump campaign delivering food to hospitals to thank overworked healthcare staff amid coronavirus crisis: Report
President Donald Trump’s administration might have struggled to deliver as per expectations in the times of coronavirus but his campaign for the November 3 election has been working round the clock to make up for his public image that has been dented. Trump’s campaign is reportedly delivering large quantities of food to hospitals to cater to the first responders who are having a torrid time. Over 6,000 people have died in the US in the pandemic while over 245,000 -- the most in any country -- have been affected.
According to Fox News, the incumbent’s re-election campaign team has been contacting restaurants since last week to order the food to be delivered to more than a dozen hospitals in states like New York, New Jersey, Washington and Michigan. The report said that these orders are being placed anonymously and confirmed it from sources who also claimed that there is nothing political in it.
'Nothing political about it'
“They’re doing it as a donor who cares,” Fox News cited one source as saying. “So nothing politically is tied to it. ... We’re just trying to, you know, show a thank you.”
Another source said the orders were saving local restaurants that were facing an existential crisis. “They’re trying to send things that are like, local restaurants that may need support [and] cool restaurant icons of the area that may need the business,” it said.
Trump was doing great in the race to become the president for the second time this year till the pandemic struck. The Republican, who even survived an impeachment, has been found wanting in his response to the unprecedented crisis and the economic disaster caused by the lockdown is being seen as a huge threat to his bid.
Fox cited one source to say that the president’s campaign has already spent tens of thousands of dollars and will continue to do it over the coming weeks. Trump recently warned his fellow Americans to keep prepared for tough times ahead as the potential death toll could go up to a quarter of a million.
Restaurants happy to receive bulk orders
The restaurants were not complaining. One eatery in NJ’s Secaucus, for instance, got an order from an unidentified individual that called for 40 platters of pasta, sandwiches and salads. One of its employees was quoted as saying: “We’re happy to do it. Trust me.”
Trump, thus, is winning hearts both in the hotel and hospital industries.
An instagram post from Hackensack’s Chit Chat Diner restaurant in New Jersey showed packaged meals waiting to be delivered. The diner thanked whoever placed the order, saying: “An anonymous donation providing lunch to some hardworking staff at Hackensack Hospital this afternoon. We are so grateful.”
Hospitals and morgues in states like New York have been overwhelmed by bodies of the pandemic victims and medical experts and law-keepers are having a tough time in tackling the situation. Hospital ship USNS Comfort arrived in New York City on Monday, March 30, to join the fight against coronavirus to ease the hospitals’ pressure but the move has not been too successful so far because of strict protocol.
The Trump administration has also undertaken an initiative to provide a massive economic stimulus package worth over $2 trillion although there are experts who have expressed reservations over it.