Who's the real fear monger?

It's been on the news the last couple of days that the stock market has taken a plunge due to investors' legitimate fears about the potential spread of coronavirus here in the US.

A co-worker told me earlier today that the market is moving back up the ladder, which is a good sign. However, President Trump misinterpreted the fears of the stock market, and blamed his favorite target, the "fake" news media (i.e. CNN, MSNBC) for, well, fear mongering.

No, Mr. President. They're not at fault. In times of crisis, such as the potential health crisis we may soon be facing en masse in this country due to coronavirus, which has its origins in China, the stock market reacts the way it did, because fear is an all too real, all too human emotion. It's happened in other, more dangerous crisis situations, so to Dow Jones, et al, coronavirus is no different.

Mr. Trump's latest Twantrum this morning reminds us again, that, for all of his bluster, for the faux tough guy facade that won over voters four years ago, there is this other side of Donald John Trump:

The media downplays a lot of the positive things Mr. Trump has done to this point, preferring instead to emphasize the image fostered by him of the Ugly American, the 70-something man-child that reacts as a juvenile does when things don't go his way.

The stock market's success, you see, is something Trump is counting on as a plank on his re-election platform. You can't plan for something like coronavirus, and fear of the unknown does lead to panic in various forms, including the stock market.

No, the media is only reporting on the legitimate news that is coronavirus, and what hazards it will bring here. The fear monger, Mr. Trump, is you. Your paranoia over how the news media perceives you is a big reason why there are still people still not sold on you as President. Just because MSNBC and CNN don't genuflect before you and promote you as a solid leader, doesn't give you the right to cut them down every time there's a story that paints you in a bad light.

This we know. Before you were President, you had business dealings with North Korea and Russia, as any businessman would. Because much of the free world sees them as hostile nations, you're under greater scrutiny than any other President because you can't separate your past business dealings from the here & now.

The funny part about how the media frames allegations of Russian meddling this time suggests that your friend, Vince McMahon, should be President. And his media image isn't that much better than yours. Think about that.