The April 23rd coronavirus press briefing, during which the leader of the free world suggested that ingesting toxic bleach and exposure to carcinogenic ultra-violet light could cure coronavirus, should have convinced even the most fact-resistant beautiful clean-coal Trump supporter in West Virginia that there is a leadership problem in the White House. This went beyond Trump Derangement Syndrome. The President of the United States unquestionably believes that ingesting sodium hypochlorite could be a good idea. When Phil Rucker of the Washington Post pointed out that people were looking for information and guidance, not rumours; President Trump instinctively responded with a school-yard ad hominem attack, “Phil, I'm the President and you're fake news. He's a total faker.”

Very Presidential.

The US Army Leadership Requirements Model (ALRM) lists the following Core Leadership Competencies and Attributes:Leads Others Builds Trust Extends Influence Beyond Chain of Command Leads by Example Communicates Creates a Positive Environment Prepares Self Develops Others Stewards of the Profession Gets Results.

Reviewing the Commander-in-Chief's performance over the past mad three and a half years against this list of basic leadership qualities, it is difficult to check any of the ten boxes. As with pet rocks, virtual girlfriends and Twitter, future historians will struggle to explain the existence of President Trump.

Leadership is important at the best of times. In a crisis, it is…well, critical.

The United States has faced crisis in the past, and Presidents of the day were called upon to provide leadership.

President Lincoln's address delivered at Gettysburg, PA on November 19th,1863 during the Civil War was inspirational, “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Immortal words.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, President Roosevelt's now famous “date which will live in infamy” speech crushed Japan's hopes to end US opposition to it's expansionist goals in the Pacific Region, and reassured stunned Americans; “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.” Leadership. No grey area.

On October 22nd, 1962, at the height of the Cold War, President Kennedy addressed Americans on the Cuban Missile Crisis; “The path we have chosen for the present is full of hazards, as all paths are; but it is the one most consistent with our character and courage as a nation and our commitments around the world. The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender or submission.” Inspirational words at a dangerous moment in history.

Even President Bush, rendered erudite by present Presidential standards, stepped up to the plate in the wake of 9/11, “A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America.” Encouraging words in a dark time.

Compare these Presidential words from the past to those of President Trump during the current global pandemic.

On April 21st he boasted that his coronavirus briefings get “Bachelor finale” ratings, “I've had great ratings my whole life, there's nothing unusual about that for me. The White House News Conference ratings are through the roof.”

At CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Trump was asked whether he'd consider postponing future rallies due to concerns over the virus. The President responded, “I haven't had any problems filling them. We just had one in North Carolina, South Carolina, all of the place and we have tens of thousands of people standing outside of the arena.” When pressed if he thought it was a risk to have that many people standing close together, Trump replied, "Doesn't bother me at all, and it doesn't bother them at all."

His prediction? The virus will “maybe go away. We'll see what happens. Nobody really knows. One day it's like a miracle – it will disappear.”

On April 15th, in the face of growing criticism over his mis-handling of COVID-19, President Trump tried passing the buck; “Today I'm instructing my administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mis-managing and covering up the spread of the coronavirus. Everybody knows what's going on there.”

Can this really be the President of the United States speaking?

President Lincoln's words seem prescient now, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”

How is the President doing on coronavirus? According to the New York Times, he has congratulated himself six hundred times.

“I guess I'm doing okay, because…I'm the President of the United States.”