I was eating ramen at 1am, as college students do, when the Times published an article saying that President Trump and FLOTUS have tested positive for COVID-19. I remember hearing cheers and screams outside my window. It could have been Thursday night adrenaline, but it could also have been because Trump, after all of his effort, has finally contracted the virus. 

My mind spun when I heard the news: from “I told you so” to “oh gosh he is a 75-year-old obese man” to “how many people did he come in contact with” to so many more that I don’t want to bore you with. Anger, uneasiness, well mostly just anger, filled me because of what could have been and what’s yet to come. 

I thought, if Trump were to be careful, he would be unlikely to catch the virus because of his position. He has all the privilege and means to help him avoid the virus. The White House staff has received mandatory random COVID-19 testing since early August as it is a “part of [the] ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of the entire White House Complex” (Breuninger for CNBC, 2020). Staffers need to wear masks to enter the West Wing and his staffers are required to take the COVID-19 test regularly. Everyone did their job, but Trump couldn’t and wouldn’t. If he were to wear a mask and follow proven-to-work guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus, he would have not put himself, his wife, and his staff in danger. 

And just when you thought that he learned something from the pain, he tweeted “Don’t be afraid of COVID-19. Don’t let it dominate your life” took off his mask on the balcony of the White House after his discharge from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Michael Sokolove from the New York Times suggested that the President “was afraid of looking afraid.” It was indeed a display of toxic masculinity of and a shameful one at that. When it comes to a life and death situation like COVID-19, Trump prioritizes himself and his image over other people’s lives really makes us think twice on whether we would want a person who puts himself above everything else as a leader. 

Well, what’s done is done. Instead, then, let’s talk about why Trump contracting COVID-19 is relevant to SLU campus. 

Simply put, he serves as a testament to what recklessness can bring to this battle with our invisible enemy (Stephens for NYTimes, 2020). Our remote location is beneficial, but it doesn’t prevent it. Proper precautions can. So, if you stop wearing masks and start staying close to one another, you are likely to spread something that you don’t even know is there. And please, don’t get me started on partying. Knowing that we have a distinguable drinking culture from previous years, we are doing astonishing well, but our success is so fragile because we are relying on results that are extremely prone to changes. Despite our random testing and soon our wastewater testing, we can never be 100% sure that we are free of the virus. A place so secure like the White House only takes one rash person like Trump to start an outbreak. For our campus, it’s the same deal. 

So, Trump and his irresponsibility serve as a reminder for all of us: Stay conscious because our battle has just begun. Bring Dana lines back to 6-feet apart. Stop partying with people outside of your family unit. Wear your mask properly (as in cover your nose and chin)! Don’t wait until you feel sick to think of what could have been done. Do it now for yourself, your peers, your professors, and your loved ones at home.