Foreign Policy: When the Coronavirus Reaches the Top
“…Trump is now one of many world leaders and other top officials to be infected with COVID-19 since the World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic more than six months ago. From Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the cases have varied in health and political effects — but each infection has intensified questions about the leader’s handling of the pandemic. For Trump’s campaign, much depends on the days ahead and the severity of his symptoms. Below is a list of the top leaders who tested positive for COVID-19 — and what came next…” (Saraiva et al., 10/2).

Washington Post: Months before coronavirus hit Trump’s circle, Iran battled a similar outbreak
“As the coronavirus ripples through President Trump’s inner circle and beyond, a key lesson of the pandemic is again on full display: Power and privilege are not reliable protections from the virus. … Earlier in the pandemic, that was also true for members of Iran’s parliament — more than 10 percent of whom had contracted the virus by early March…” (Berger, 10/3).

Washington Post: China had mocked Trump for not taking the pandemic seriously. Now it’s very personal.
“President Trump has spent much of this year blaming China for the coronavirus, while Beijing has mocked him for not taking the pandemic seriously enough. Now, Trump’s own diagnosis has turned the battle acutely personal while deepening the uncertainty in U.S.-China relations…” (Dou/Yang, 10/3).