Obama on Biden’s Ability to Handle Pandemic: Would Not Quit on ‘Trying to Actually Bend Down the Curve’

Former President Barack Obama criticized the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus as the pandemic continues to impact dozens of cities around the country.

During a socially distanced discussion with former Vice President Joe Biden, Obama discussed the dire state of the U.S. now faced with a public health crisis and economic turmoil.

After Biden — now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee — expressed concern about Trump’s presumed lack of empathy. Obama recalled the outcome of the public health crisis they experienced during their tenure in the White House.

Obama said, “You and I had experience dealing with health crises, public health crises, and in each instance what you and I understood, and why I have so much confidence that you’re going to be able to deal with COVID in the way that other countries with our kinds of resources are dealing with it right now, which is smartly.”

See their exchange below:

Obama expressed confidence in Biden’s experience and ability to lead as he highlighted how he believes Biden’s leadership would differ in comparison to the current administration’s handling of the virus.

“I have confidence you’re going to actually listen to the experts,” Obama said. And you’re going to pay attention to the science, and you’re not going to quit on trying to actually bend down the curve of disease and transmission rates.”