COVID-19: Pandemic has exposed many – Obama blasts Trump govt

Former United States President, Barack Obama has criticised the Trump administration over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

It was a rare public rebuke as Obama usually avoid comments about the administration.

According to a convention, former U.S. presidents do not openly reprimand each other or the incumbent.

“More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” Dpa quoted him as saying.

Obama spoke on Saturday in an address to 2020 college graduates.

The online speech capped an event for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

“A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge,” Obama said.

He told graduating students that the pandemic means they would have to grow up faster than other generations.

“Do what you think is right. Doing what feels good, what’s convenient, what’s easy. That’s how little kids think.

“Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grown ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way, which is why things are so screwed up,” Obama noted.

The ex American leader also addressed racism in the country, citing the case of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man killed while jogging in February.

Two men shot him twice in broad daylight and autopsy report released showed he suffered blasts to the chest.

Obama told the graduates: “Let’s be honest: A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country.

“We see it in the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on our communities, just as we see it when a black man goes for a jog and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesn’t submit to their questioning”.

Obama’s condemnation followed last week private conference call, in which he called the U.S. handling of COVOD-19 “an absolute chaotic disaster”.

In the conversation leaked by Yahoo News, Obama reportedly said the rule of law was at risk after criminal charges against former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn were dropped.

The Trump administration is being accused of a slow response to the crisis.

America has recorded over 1.5 million cases of coronavirus and 90,000 deaths.

On Friday, China reacted to Trump’s new threat to cut trade ties.