The United States and the actions of President Donald Trump and Congress are, as a whole, being watched closely by the worldwide media. The world is watching as we find ourselves amid a pandemic unlike any other in history. 

Last week, Congress and the Trump administration closed in on an $2 trillion stimulus bill to counteract the economic disparity that the country has been facing from the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, debated to fine tune the details of the plan. The bill includes a package of direct payments to a large portion of Americans and a half-trillion dollar fund to support companies that are wrestling with current financial issues because of  the virus outbreak. 

The bill became the centerpiece of Congress’ legislative agenda, which is more than a reasonable thing for members of Congress to turn their attention to. Undoubtedly, the party control of Congress is more significant than ever before; however, members of Congress have been able to put their hyper-partisanship aside to find a compromise representative of both sides. 

Although Congress ultimately reached a verdict last Friday, the decision did not come without controversy as Republicans criticized Democrats for deliberately withholding the needed economic aid. Democrats reasoned that the bill still required attention and needed more adjusting to fit the needs of all Americans.

This trend of massive money installments to combat the coronavirus pandemic is nothing new, however. As the head of government, on March 6, Trump approved an $8.3 billion spending package to help fund the fight against the virus. Trump has striven to embody the symbol of the hopes and dreams of the people of the United States throughout this crisis by keeping information flowing and providing new safety guidelines for state and local governments.

Trump’s actions as commander-in-chief have been particularly significant throughout the entirety of the pandemic. Trump recently boosted funding for the national guard to fight the coronavirus. Two US Navy hospital ships on each of America’s coasts were also deployed to provide more hospital beds. 

The president has now taken measures to extend social distancing until April 30, despite his initial claim of opening the country back up by Easter. As death rates continue to climb, Trump has urged all Americans to “remain united in purpose and focused on victory.”

Throughout this crisis, Trump’s chances at reelection are being  examined. Although Trump has encouraged resilience, the media has made efforts to deride him by claiming that he is prioritizing the economy over American lives and is making the call to open up the country too soon. 

However, Trump’s rating has been on a steady increase, according to a recent Gallup poll. This is due in part to a resurgence of patriotism although, the horrors of the virus are far from over. The coming weeks will be a better determinant of the chances the president has for a successful reelection.

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