Experts worry 'we are not prepared' for pandemic under Trump, RFK Jr.

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Updated May 8, 2026, 4:01 p.m. ET


World Health Organization officials have assured that the hantavirus outbreak is not the start of a pandemic. But as more headlines emerge about the potentially deadly infection, many are reminded of the COVID pandemic − and worried about the United State's preparedness.

"It's very much, we hope, under control," President Donald Trump told reporters when asked if he had been briefed on the virus. But some said his remarks don't instill confidence. “You don’t manage one (disease) you think is going to become a pandemic with hope alone," Dr. Céline Gounder, a physician who specializes in infectious diseases and global health, told reporters on May 8. USA TODAY has reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for comment.

Preparedness concerns have been fueled by the administration's history of actions that medical experts say weaken public health, from spreading health misinformation to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ending long-standing childhood vaccine recommendations. Public trust in health institutions also eroded in the response to the COVID pandemic — spanning both Trump's and former President Joe Biden's administrations — which included communication missteps that former officials have publicly reflected on.

In a hantavirus-focused press briefing on May 7, the Infectious Diseases Society of America's CEO, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, shared concerns that “we are not prepared" for public health crises.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2026/05/08/trump-rfk-jr-prepared-potential-pandemics/89991254007/

[RandySF]

1. You don't have to be an expert.

[TBF]

2. For those of us w/immune issues

RFK, Jr is the most terrifying part of this administration.

[dedl67]

3. Secretary of Disease, Pestilence, and Early Death

... since they are changing the names of Departments these days.

[BattleRow]

8. DEI...Disease,early death and incompetence.

[EuterpeThelo]

4. This

is triggering the hell out of me. His deliberate mismanagement of COVID last time cost me the love of my life. I participate in a group for people who lost loved ones to the virus and NONE of us are OK, despite society trying to shove our pain down the memory hole as fast as they possibly can.

"It's very much, we hope, under control..."

“We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. It’s going to be just fine.”

“Looks like by April, you know in theory when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.”

“The 15 (cases in the US) within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero.”

“It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”

I intended "to always play it down.”

“I don’t take responsibility at all.”

"They are dying. That's true. And you — it is what it is.”

[Martin68]

5. "Experts worry 'we are not prepared' for pandemic" Ya think?

[Vinca]

6. File that under "No Shit Sherlock."

[SamuelAdams]

7. The health expert was Captain Obvious.

Unless ivermectin or some homeopathic remedy stops a pandemic, I wouldn't expect much from this administration.

[thought crime]

9. Calling Dr. Fauci. Please report to the dance floor.

RFK Jr., Bobby, Bob, "Gloryhallastoopid, Mista Bob Dobalina"

( From Song by Del the Funky Homosapien ).

[Bengus81]

10. They'll just call it a Democrat Hoax anyway. No PPE or anything else needed

[Ray Bruns]

11. Don't worry. Whatever virus comes around, it will disappear in the spring like COVID did.

Wait! That’s not what happened. It was a total fiasco! And the people in charge then are in charge now!

[vapor2]

14. And how many died from covid due to this man's negligence ??

We're in good hands so no need to worry.

[AZLD4Candidate]

12. "It's very much, we hope, under control," President Donald Trump told reporters

We hope? That's a nice way of saying "We have nothing."

Maybe he'll tell us to inject sunlight, shove a floor lamp up our asses, or ingest bleach like he did last time.

[Aristus]

13. As long as we have plenty of ivermectin, we should be okay.

Maybe it will kill off the useless percentage of Americans who thumb their noses at medical science, immunizations, and proper pandemic management.

One can only hope...

[Scalded Nun]

15. 'we are not prepared' for pandemic? Give me a fucking break!

We are not prepared for a cold. I seriously doubt we can handle a stubbed toe with these asshats.

[artemisia1]

16. Trump will solve this with bleach and Kennedy will bring in a YouTube Chiropractor to promote a "colon" cleans and

keto diet. (SARCASM). Don't worry folks, we are in good hands. None of that pesky "M.D.", allopathic medicine stuff.

[OldBaldy1701E]

17. Hmm... **Looks back over the news articles from the COVID time.**

Ready?

Hell, a certain percentage of the population is not going to admit it is even happening. A certain percentage will just hope to get sick so that they can sew chaos. A certain percentage will just sit and let them all do this because doing anything to stop them would mean breaking the illusion of our society, which would remove those who are in power positions. And, they would rather kill you all than let that happen.

Prepared for a pandemic? We can't (or won't) even realize that we need to stay home when we have a cold.

We are not willing to be prepared enough to deal with what is going on in this country under normal circumstances. What makes us think we have a chance if another virus gets loose like that last one did?