Instead of focusing on the pandemic, Trump spent his weekend golfing and expressed more frustration over his golf swing than he has over the rising number of new cases in nearly half of the states and outbreaks on college campuses. Meanwhile, Trump still refuses to listen to science and is dangerously pushing states to immediately lift restrictions as his focus on his reelection risks corrupting the search for a vaccine.

Trump spent his weekend golfing and appeared to be more frustrated about his golf swing than he has been about the ongoing pandemic.

Bloomberg’s Emma Kinnery: “President Trump has arrived at his golf course in Virginia for the second day in a row. The president has no public events scheduled today.”

NBC News’s Kelly O’Donnell: “Golf can often be a frustrating game even for devoted players.  The president, on his course today in Virginia, seemed less than pleased with this shot.  @NBCNews video taken at distance.”

New coronavirus cases are rising in 22 states and the daily rate of new cases remains well above where it was in May and June.

Reuters: “Coronavirus cases are rising in 22 of the 50 U.S. states, according to a Reuters analysis, a worrisome trend on a Labor Day holiday weekend traditionally filled with family gatherings and parties to mark the end of summer.”

Wall Street Journal: “The nation’s total number of confirmed cases is more than 6.2 million. Though the rate of new daily cases has trended downward since a mid-July peak above 77,000, the U.S. daily rate remains above where it was in parts of May and June, when it ranged in the low 20,000s.”

New coronavirus outbreaks are raging on campuses and in college towns across the country.

Bloomberg: “Raging Campus Outbreaks Send Students Home Across the U.S”

New York Times: “A New Front in America’s Pandemic: College Towns”

Trump amplified anti-science claims, calling for an end to all lockdowns, even though lifting restrictions fueled the current surge in new cases. 

The Daily Beast: “President Donald Trump on Sunday retweeted a message from conservative agitator Charlie Kirk that declared, ‘All the lockdowns must end immediately.’ His amplification of the anti-science sentiment comes as much of the U.S. is coping with a surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the lifting of restrictions this summer and the reopening of schools.”

Trump is ratcheting up pressure on officials to deliver a vaccine ahead of the election, instead of following the science to ensure it is safe and effective.

Washington Post: “Trump fixates on the promise of a vaccine — real or not — as key to reelection bid”

CNN: “Trump’s coronavirus delusions risk corrupting the search for a vaccine”

CNN: “Anxieties over the process that could lead to the approval of a coronavirus vaccine are escalating as President Donald Trump, desperate to stamp an end date on the deadly pandemic nightmare, ratchets up pressure on top regulatory officials to deliver him a medical and political panacea ahead of the November election.”