Calling Trump: When connections help steer virus supplies

It was early on a Friday when Jared Kushner said he received a call from his far-in-law, President Donald Trump. Trump was hearing from friends in New York that city's public hospital system was running low on critical supplies to fight new coronavirus — something city officials, nurses and doctors h been saying for weeks.

Kushner, who has taken a le role in federal government's response, called Dr. Mitchell Katz, who runs city's hospital system, to ask what was most needed.And t long after, Trump was on phone with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio anuncing that Federal Emergency Manment ncy would be sending a month's worth of N-95 masks to city's front-line workers.

“ president’s been very, very hands-on in this," Kushner told reporters. “He’s really instructed us to leave stone unturned.”It was a happy ending to one chapter of a dreful story: Critical supplies went to a place with critical needs.

But president's intervention underscored what watchdogs say is a troubling pattern when it comes to how Trump ministration is doling out lifesaving resources. Despite building a data-driven tri system in which FEMA allots supplies based on local needs, those who are politically connected and have president’s ear have, at times, been able to bypass that process and move to front of line.

White House officials reject tion that process is being circumvented, stressing that everyone has been working to quickly get supplies to places that need m most. That includes navigating complicated global supply chain issues and coordinating complementary efforts by private companies like Apple and billionaires including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, casi magnate Sheldon elson and Chinese business giant Jack Ma. If state and local leers need assistance, y said, all y need to do is call.

“It’s outrous that some would even speculate that resources being delivered by federal government to states is somehow based on politics,” said White House spokesman Judd Deere. “This is about saving lives."But sometimes it helps to kw those in charge.

It was just after 8 p.m. last Saturday when Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York took to Twitter to sound alarm about critical needs on Long Island, a coronavirus hotspot with about 25,000 people infected. Suffolk Count's stockpile h run out of personal protective equipment — PPE — needed by local hospitals, nursing homes and first responders, including masks and gowns.

“We need fellow Americans who can help to PLEASE send us PPE ASAP!” Zeldin wrote.Minutes later, his call was answered.

“I posted a tweet and I received a call within minutes — literally within minutes — from Jared Kushner wanting to help,” said Zeldin. A day later, congressman said, 150,000 surgical masks were delivered by a company he'd been connected with by someone close to White House who h also seen his mess. And 250,000 N-95 masks were delivered by federal government days later.

“Honestly I couldn’t be happier with how quick turnaround has been,” Zeldin said earlier this week.While Zeldin isn't considered a top Democratic target, Trump has also helped vulnerable Republicans secure supplies, raising concerns from critics that he may be using shipments to bolster political allies.

president tweeted Wednesday that he would be “immediately sending 100 Ventilators to Coloro" at request of Sen. Cory Gardner, a Republican who is considered among party’s most vulnerable senators. To Coloro Rep. Diana DeGette, a Democrat, that looked like “playing politics w/ public health.”

On Friday, ar vulnerable GOP senator, Martha McSally, took to Twitter to relay “huge news” that Arizona would be getting 100 ventilators and to thank “President Trump and @VP for hearing our call.”

Allies of president have intervened in or ways. Republican fundraiser Ray Washburne helped arrange a call between Trump and high-end restaurateurs including Wolfgang Puck and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, a tenant of Trump International in New York. Trump quickly embraced a proposal to restore tax break allowing corporations to fully deduct costs of restaurant meals and entertainment.

“I’ll just get president on phone,” Washburne recalls telling group. “He was fantastic.”Members of Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago club also have contacted White House, asking for vice about where to send supplies y h privately procured.

ah Bookbinder, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a government watchdog group, said it's always problematic when presidents make decisions based on what y're hearing from friends, business associates and customers.

“But when we're talking about life and death decisions that will affect future of t just individuals but whole communities, it’s particularly appalling that se decisions are me based on whim of president and input of people who happen to have his phone number," Bookbinder said.

Billionaire philanthropist Ken Langone, namesake of New York's NYU Langone Medical Center, panned idea that anyone was receiving special treatment and applauded ministration's efforts to make sure everyone gets what y need.

“I’m very impressed with team effort that’s going on," he said, ding, “I wish my having kwn Trump h got me special treatment.""re is ne of that orwise we wouldn’t have shorts."

As for Zeldin, congressman said he h been relying on process set up by White House, in which states go through FEMA to get supplies. But “when stockpile gets down to zero," he said, “n you have to find ar way.”In any case, he said, w isn't time to point fingers.

“re will be an after-action report that is done here and part of what will be done here is analyzing process of how federal government communicates and works with states and how states communicate and work with counties," he said. But for w, “Everyone's in same foxhole with ir rifles pointed in same direction and that’s only way to get through this."

(Im Credit: AP)