Coronavirus Crisis: AOC Says Trump’s Response Is Costing People’s Lives

From the moment the coronavirus entered our lives, President Donald Trump unleashed lies about the disease. While the level of severity has increased immensely, Trump’s inactions and falsehoods continue, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that has got to stop. 

The New York representative appeared on CNN to discuss how this health crisis is affecting local medical personnel and demanded that Trump enact the Defense Production Act. For those unfamiliar with this legislation, the Defense Production Act, according to the Washington Post, “would allow Trump to push U.S. manufacturers such as automakers and clothing companies to pivot to making medical equipment for hospitals and medical workers who say they are out of equipment or will be soon to treat the expected onslaught of coronavirus patients.”

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez told Jake Tapper that Trump must pass the Defense Production Act before more people lose their lives. 

“We cannot wait until people start really dying in large numbers to start production, especially of more complicated equipment like ventilators and hospital beds,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said on “State of the Union.” “We need to start this production right now to get ready for the surge that is coming in two to three weeks.”

“We cannot wait until people start really dying in large numbers … we need to start this production right now to get ready for the surge that is coming in two to three weeks.” -Rep. @AOC reacts to Pres. Trump not enforcing the Defense Production Act. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/sENJMXfHkC

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) March 22, 2020

As of now, the Trump administration said that they don’t need the Defense Production Act because private companies have taken it upon themselves to produce these supplies. Still, the issue is they are not reaching hospitals fast enough. 

“There are not enough face masks, gloves, ventilators, hospital beds to get us through this. Many hospitals are already at capacity or are approaching capacity. And there is kind of no real stream in sight from the federal government on where these materials are coming from,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said. “You know, companies are donating what they can. That is great. It is not enough. And the fact that the President has not really invoked the Defense Production Act for the purpose of emergency manufacture is going to cost lives.”

The number of coronavirus cases has increased drastically in the United States, and New York state is now the epicenter. In the U.S. 314,700 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and in New York State, 15,000 people have tested positive. 

“We cannot wait until people start really dying in large numbers,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez reiterated. “We need to start this production right now to get ready for the surge that is coming in two to three weeks.”