Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans refuses to take responsibility for her decision not to call off Mardi Gras over concerns of the Wuhan coronavirus. That decision has caused New Orleans to become the epicenter of coronavirus cases in the state of Louisiana, according to medical experts. So who exactly does the Democratic mayor blame for not canceling Mardi Gras in her own city? Donald Trump.
In an interview with Wolf Blitzer, Cantrell said she didn't take the threat of the virus too seriously because President Trump didn't take it seriously. She then gave herself credit for canceling other events in her city subsequent to Mardi Gras, like the St. Patrick's Day parade.
"When it's not taken seriously at the federal level, it's very difficult to transcend down to the local level in making these decisions," Cantrell argued.
But it was taken seriously at the federal level, as even Mr. Blitzer pointed out. Center for Disease Control Dr. Nancy Messonnier said on Feb. 12, "we can and should be prepared for this new virus to gain a foothold in the United States."
President Trump also announced travel restrictions on China in late January, and states and local governments have tailored their response to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in their own communities. Perhaps the mayor didn't know a virus could easily spread when you pack a million-plus people to party in the streets of New Orleans.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell blames Trump for her not canceling Mardi Gras: "When it’s not taken seriously at the federal level. It’s very difficult to transcend down to the local level in making these decisions." pic.twitter.com/JF1VgNsJHB
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 26, 2020