I cannot debate in too much detail the nuances of USA politicking.
As a complete outsider looking in, what I see, between Covid-19 and the preliminaries, the focus is split. Everyone’s full attention is required, politics should take a backseat, as difficult as that can be.
At the moment I lean towards a view that points to the USA risking to become a Covid-19 “winner” ito total infected, critical cases and deaths with a potential of complete financial collapse due to the 1) USA’s immense debt and 2) the Saudi’s and Russia having a bit of a debate around the oil price.
And IF in the end the USA leads the world ito deaths because of Covid-19 and politicking, the Chinese may just look like the “good guys”, with the PetroDollar something of the past.
Not for one moment do I believe that any country can contain the virus unless they close all borders and stop any and all movements with extreme prejudice. Close down cities with the same extreme prejudice.
China could not even try to initially shut down all international travel, nor can the USA. People will move. China did make mistakes, but they have to be given a huge lump of credit for what they did right within weeks.
And shutting down flights from Europe, yet allowing Green Card holders and USA Citizens to return from Europe … okayyy … that is not going to work so well at all.
In the end, the numbers, viral and financial, will tell which country acted with the best foresight, which plans worked the best, ready for the next outbreak, as this is not the first and most definitely not the last.
S Korea and Singapore, off the top of my head, seem to be leaders in containing their spread.