Biden Blasts Trump’s Handling of COVID-19, Saying the President ‘Has No Real Plan’ for Getting Students and Teachers Back to School Safely
As the new school year begins, former vice president Joe Biden criticized President Donald Trump for his lack of a clear plan to safely open schools, while praising educators and students for their determination and resilience. Biden stated that if Trump and his administration had taken effective action early on in the crisis, schools would be open and millions of students wouldn’t be starting the year at home like they did last year.
Biden highlighted his own school reopening plan, which focuses on widespread COVID-19 testing, providing protective equipment for schools, and allocating additional funding. He acknowledged the concerns of teachers who are returning to schools that may not have the necessary resources to prevent the spread of the disease.
Although most schools in the country have reopened, many large school districts are still relying on remote learning. Even those that plan to adopt a hybrid model are delaying its implementation until later in the fall.
Biden’s speech followed a visit by his wife, Jill Biden, to Shortlidge Elementary School in Wilmington, Delaware. Jill spoke with Principal Deborah Ashton and toured a second-grade classroom, recognizing the anxiety surrounding school reopening. However, she did not address Trump’s handling of the matter and instead focused on the positive influence that teachers have on students’ lives.
In addition to criticizing Trump’s lack of action on school reopening, Biden also expressed concerns about the ongoing negotiations for another pandemic relief bill. He urged Trump to engage in dialogue with congressional leaders from both parties. School superintendents have stated that they require approximately $200 billion to safely reopen schools this year.
Trump has been pushing for in-person learning and downplaying the health risks associated with virtual learning. Biden countered that virtual learning cannot replace the experience of being in a classroom, but stressed the need for proper safety measures.
Biden’s comments came on the heels of conflicting messages from the Trump administration regarding assistance to schools during this reopening phase. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that it would no longer reimburse schools for cloth face masks, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pledged to distribute up to 125 million cloth masks to schools, prioritizing students from low-income families in both public and private schools.
