politics

Trump first foreign leader to call for postponing Tokyo Olympics

89 Comments
By Brendan Smialowski

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89 Comments

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To everyone saying it shouldn't be done because the athletes are in peak conditions now: do you really think so? There's a good chance a number of them will get sick and unable to train and perform. It's very plausible many of them will be at their worst this summer. Postpone it a year, then they can all get that much better or get worse together :)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Donny has been horrible in dealing with the coronavirus in the US by contradicting the experts. His fan bois on this site know this and have even told ya to not listen to Donny about this. That’s why it’s funny anyone thinks Donny's shining right now.

The president does not have the final say over American athletes attending the Olympics. Cursory research sure helps in not being incorrect.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Ha ha haaaa ha haaa. Just laughed my tea all over me!

Why?

He's so decisive telling other countries what to do, whilst chaos and lies are the order of the day in his own.

Imagining again?

If the Games are cancelled, so be it but it won't be down to the clown in Washington.

When it comes to OUR athletes, he has the last say.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Corona is giving a chance for Trump to shine as a world leader who takes action.

Ha ha haaaa ha haaa. Just laughed my tea all over me!

He's so decisive telling other countries what to do, whilst chaos and lies are the order of the day in his own.

If the Games are cancelled, so be it but it won't be down to the clown in Washington.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

At a glance, Trump keeps calm and made correct decision. But I can't think it neither calm nor correct.

Just watching on TV it's fun games in crowd. In this mean I can agree him. But for athletes staking their lives on Olympic games, schedule changing is a deathblow.

First of all 2020 Olympic games was not a Recovery games from the tsunami disaster? Recovery is too far for people especially in Fukushima. No idea has this Olympic games.

So I think half measure is no good.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Beautiful buildings? Where? All I see is the usual grey, characterless, soulless dirge.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

One of the few intelligent comments he's ever made.

If he has, then it's the same as a stopped clock being right twice a day.

The fact that he was saying quite the opposite a few days ago makes it clear that he is not displaying evidence of intelligence.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

2 weeks ago Trump stated -- in that way tat is all knowing -- that there were 15 cases. That it was under control. That it would soon get close to zero. Yet, a virus cannot be bullied or bought. Then he said that anyone can have a test -- though there were very few test kits available as the US turned down the WHO kit in favour of one manufactured in the States. The US kit proved to be unreliable. Then he had a “hunch" that the mortality rates were too high for coronavirus compared to the flu. Then he said it would miraculously disappear as the weather got warmer in April.

The man isn't fit to run anything. Banning flights from the Schengen Area is just a nasty swipe at the EU. Designed to distract attention. Just fly to Cnada, drive South my EU friends!

The US because of this numpty is in a parlous state to deal with a pandemic. And the deaths and the economic costs I HOPE will pile up on Trump and crush him for all eternity and the lap dog GOP.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

First, let's be clear; President Trump was responding to reporters' questions about his thoughts on the Games.

"The president floated the possibility of postponing the games after reporters at the White House asked him about his thoughts about the games during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Thursday afternoon in the Oval Office."

"Ah_soToday  07:13 am JST

A man who was calling coverage of the virus a "hoax" just a few days ago has now called for calling off the world's largest sporting event."

Trump DID NOT refer to the virus itself as a hoax, but rather the dems' politization of the virus as their next hoax to attack him.

Even Factcheck.com agrees with President Trump!

https://www.factcheck.org/2020/03/trump-and-the-new-hoax/

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Abe will postpone it and blame it on Trump. Why not, everything bad happening is Trump’s fault, isn’t it?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

UK wants to hold an Olympics, so move to UK

No, they don’t. That was a crackpot Tory running for London mayor.

England is contemplating suspending or even canceling something more important than the Olympics - the Premier League.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

UK wants to hold an Olympics, so move to UK

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Postponing the olympics is definitely a good call. Japan needs the world to come and spend the money to make up for the total expenditures that as of Dec 31 were estimated at ¥1.35 trillion ($12.7 Billion). That figure is divided between Tokyo (¥597 billion), the Japanese organizing committee (¥603 billion), and the Central Gov't (¥150 billion) --

These numbers are 10 times the original budget! (and they don't account for all the businesses that paid an estimated ¥384 billion in sponsorships through 2019).

On the heals of some super unfortunate expenses for Japan (such as Typhoon Hagibis) and a stupid tax hike that ended up dampening consumer spending so much that the GDP for Q4 fell negative -- and now the 1st Quarter is most definitely going to end up negative...

The only move that makes any sense would be a postponement. Anything else would be tripping over dollars to pickup pennies (or maybe it should be "tripping over yen to pick up yennies"?) :grin:

0 ( +1 / -1 )

A man who was calling coverage of the virus a "hoax"

That's because he never claimed the virus is a hoax, only how the media and Democrats have portrayed him and tried to politicize the virus as Trump's fault.

Why should anyone even listen to this egotistical immature criminal disgracefully ill-mannered excuse of a man in the first place? 

A reporter asked him about the Olympics. Trump gave his thoughts.

Not sure what the problem is.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

This is franken-trump punishing Abe-san & Japan .

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Plus it's a convenient excuse for the Stock Market crashing, can't blame him for a "made in China" virus.

oh pleease you guys have been harping on how good the economy is for the last 3yrs record this record that, now the DOW has dropped 6000 points and a RECORD drop of 2000 in 1 day, over $2 trillion wiped from the markets, you dont think Trump own thats. LOL Trumps $1 trillion tax cut for the rich effective paved the way for the stock bubble, If it wasnt the coronavirus, Putin Saudis crashing oil prices it would have been something else. What did Trump think was going to happen the DOW to just keep on rising to 40000 and beyond.

No Trumps slow response to the virus and ridiculous financial sense is why people are dying and the markets crashing. One thing hes has been constant on is , its never his fault, always somebody's else's, Just last Monday he was tweeting away blaming everybody from Obama Biden and the Democrats, while people were dying.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"This president is dangerous to our health."

Rep. Donna Shalala (Former Sec. of Health & Human Services)

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The IOC has said they will make a final decision in May. So, everyone just be patient & wait until then.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japanese nationalist pride cannot justify going ahead with the Olympics.

Yes, but it always prevails. Kind of goofy, if you ask me; the rest of the world is watching and could care less about their nationalistic pride.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

One of the few intelligent comments he's ever made.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Finally Trump gets ahead of the virus panic. So far his PR has been bad on this issue.

One year from now, there should be a vaccine for this and the panic over.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Don't blame US President Trump, blame China and the stupid decision makers to allow the ship docking at Yokohama and all of the tourism supporters.

This. They should have just turned the Diamond Princess away, perhaps giving them a generous amount of food and medicine.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Uh-oh! Abe might have to pull his head out of Trump’s butt to object, and that objection alone will be hard enough.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

All of you saying postponing it is a "no brainer"...Well, you're assuming the people in charge actually have one.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Don't blame US President Trump, blame China and the stupid decision makers to allow the ship docking at Yokohama and all of the tourism supporters.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Wile Mr. Trump may be right with his opinion, he may have voiced it to help Mr. Abe to save face within his own political jungle.

However, in spite of the virus fears the bureaucratic systems are in many ways making matters worse.

Elderly and people who are being treated with regular medication refills still have to go to the hospital or their GP every month waiting in line for hours on end just to get a new prescription filled. 

The same goes with government tax forms or residency prove documents that are required often and for which one has to go to the local city hall each and every time, waiting for hours in line and paying a small fee for a piece of paper that could be printed out by any printer would there be an Internet access to make such request.

Then on the other hand countries who have great on line services mess it up by making it impossible to get through the security systems for all those who are visually impaired or otherwise not able to access such.

All our modern technology, progress and high-tech has actually in many ways made matters worse for society overall.

People have lost their common sense and have become logically impaired in way.

So will we have an Olympic this year?

Will Such be postponed? 

Will be people attend it?

Well, it all depends how much more time politicians will waste playing political power games rather that doing what they are supposed to do, being administrators of the public goods and it's well being.

For that they would have to reason logically and remain pragmatic all the wile basing their politics on facts rather than some hipper inflated gosepsepimging.

Being a rational person, rather than populist is what a politians should be.

For that the people who vote those have to become rational them self and that is very unlikely to happen any time soon.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

That's a 180-degree turnaround from his previous stance toward the novel coronavirus. Until at least March 8, he kept saying he seemed not concerned about the spread of the pandemic, even in the D.C area (See "Trump 'not concerned' as coronavirus cases rise in DC area", JT: March 8) 

I commented on the thread of the article that "President Trump shouldn't give it short shrift.. That's not a macho way to deal with it."

Now, Trump is calling for postponing the Tokyo Olympics for fear of the pandemic.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

you .... don't know Trump from jack,,,,,

Let me explain to you slowly, like Japan always need a fall guy, it's South Korea, whenever, something is wrong, his rating is down, he messed up, he cheated, there is my fall guy, South Korea. last action is ban ....

Now Trump is in trouble , shooting his mouth off, and not prepare for this virus thing spreading in U.S,

he needs a fall guy, well, his best buddy, PM, Whenever Trump is in trouble, he can count on the PM,

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

What is still sustaining the Mar-a-lago is Donny's weekend trips and the entourage which follows all at government expense.

By next year Mar-a-lago and quite a few Trump Hotels will be gone, all bankrupted by our bankrupter-in-chief..

HIs resorts in Europe are also failing that is why he sent Pence and military personnel to stay there on the taxpayers dime. It also why he refused to put a travel ban on the UK and Ireland. The two countries that have Trump resorts and golf courses. He makes presidential decisions based on if that government will shutdown his resorts or revoke his trademark licensing.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Could his decision also be that he planned to attend for coverage before the election?

He wants to be treated special while the whole world was watching.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Bingo!!

"Brush aside" Abe and "Cherry blossom" Koike just got the okay to suspend the games and blame it on those pesky foreign world leaders.

Must be a relief for them as no one expects Japan or Tokyo to know what to do.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Trump Chief medical expert, contradicted Trump

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

The first time Trump is making sense.

Postpone the Olympics or cancel it altogether.

Olympics without spectators is inconceivable.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

So when asked about what he thought regarding the Olympics.... "Maybe they postpone it for a year", was the answer. Never occurred to him to say "well that is a decision for Japan to make". He is so used to adding his "two cents" regarding everything, without really thinking anything through, that he just naturally answered the question.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Trump has no filter... literally thinks out loud

He doesn't have thinking ability, and we realized from yesterday speech, he can't read either....

4 ( +6 / -2 )

When will trump close the doors on Mar-a-lago?

What is still sustaining the Mar-a-lago is Donny's weekend trips and the entourage which follows all at government expense.

By next year Mar-a-lago and quite a few Trump Hotels will be gone, all bankrupted by our bankrupter-in-chief..

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Trump has no filter... literally thinks out loud

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Either way it’s a disaster for Japan. Best to delay a year when people will be able to focus on the athletes instead of the virus and the empty stadiums. They also need spectators to defray costs and help local businesses. Delay a year - it’s the right call.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Trump's utterings on coronavirus can be safely ignored. He is irrelevant to any conversation that requires actual knowledge, not just false bravado and deflecting blame Whether or not the Olympics should be postponed is an important national question, nothing is gained by listening to Trump.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Newsflash for the dissonant

japan has absolutely NO say in the final decision. That rests solely on the IOC. And based on the current global trend, looks likely that cancellation is on the cards.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Trump, in this case, is making sense. This virus isn't going away any time soon. The Japanese are naive to think that it will. Japanese nationalist pride cannot justify going ahead with the Olympics. Not containing this menace and going ahead with the games put far more people at risk. I say wait until someone has developed a vaccine to contain this thing and then go ahead with the Olympics possibly at a later date. It doesn't necessarily have to be this summer. Postpone!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Corona is giving a chance for Trump to shine as a world leader who takes action.

Trump may have a point, but like the boy who cried wolf his credibility is less than zero. Headlines are something else he likes to grab when he's desperate to distract attention from the endless series of swampy situations he always gets himself into, leaving others to clean up after him. The Tokyo Olympics are the least of his worries now that the "hoax" is spreading throughout his kingdom and threatens to topple his throne. We can assume that his buddy, Shinzo, as a Japanese nationalist, won't take too kindly to unasked for advice from an importunate outsider: it's that prickly "samurai" pride thing.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Corona is giving a chance for Trump to shine as a world leader who takes action.

Plus it's a convenient excuse for the Stock Market crashing, can't blame him for a "made in China" virus.

Thats right! Also the downvotes only prove you are correct, infuriating the left as the politicize every detail of his Presidency. Shameful!

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

For all the postponement crowd, this was not in the contract between ioc and japan. It's a huge undertaking that would disrupt so many things including the training schedules for the athletes. It's simple to tap away on your screen about postponement but try to remember athletes don't perform on your desired timetable.

Postponing until 2021 gives the athletes 1 whole year to train and get ready. They should be in great shape - you will likely see WRs fall. Many will even get a chance to train and compete in the venues.

If any athletes cant perform in 2021 for some bizarre reason, then they arent worthy Olympians.

Tokyo-Sapporo 2021.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

i thought it was in the “Olympic” contract or something that the Olympics can be delayed as long as it,s still 2020, so it,s gotta be somewhere in 2020... but this 2021 talk, maybe it,s not such a bad idea...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"Maybe they postpone it for a year," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, 19 weeks before the opening ceremony in Tokyo's Olympic Stadium.

Nothing wrong, there is a high possibility they will be postponed.

Trump said he admired Japan's preparations for hosting the Olympics for the first time since 1964, although characteristically he also praised his own record as a real estate developer.

However nobody cares for your crappy buildings and bankrupt casinos. Give them a few more years and they will all be bankrupt!!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I suppose some major figure had to put the idea out there, and the POTUS is as good a major figure as any. It's now much easier for any Japanese politician or sports administrator to say the same thing.

It's a shame," he said. "I used to be in the real estate business as you probably heard. They built some -- and I built beautiful buildings -- and they built some really beautiful buildings."

me Me ME!

On a more serious note, any country's A and E department being overwhelmed with people who cannot breathe unassisted is way way more important than athletes' ambitions and them "training all their life for this". Athletes should feel deep gratitude for having the lives they do, not entitlement to a competition that this time will endanger others. The games should be postponed or cancelled.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Ffirst time he's said something I agree with.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

So Tangerine Tubby utters what 1,000s of others have been discussing, contemplating, analyzing for weeks.

If the olympics are cancelled he will no doubt claim it was his call as the "best" leader in the world.

Only days ago he was still in denial as to the seriousness of covid and had to be corrected time and time again by his underlings and medical authorities.

The governor of Florida has issued strict warnings as the virus spreads.

When will trump close the doors on Mar-a-lago?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

JT posters siding with Trump? Have I entered the twilight zone?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

The Olympics to Abe is the swiped burrito in Elizabeth Warren’s Golden Retriever Bailey’s mouth; he will not let it go.

"It's a shame," he said. "I used to be in the real estate business as you probably heard. They built some -- and I built beautiful buildings -- and they built some really beautiful buildings."

Never misses a chance to pat himself on the back.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Trump first foreign leader to call for postponing Tokyo Olympics

I think they forgot what he said after that;

"Don't go to the Olympics, go visit a Trump golf course, or a Trump Casino! Like the Atlantic City Taj Mahal...er...uh...oh, that's right, it went bankrupt..."

"But all the others are very clean - we use illegal immigrant labor and those folks work hard scrubbing down everything."

"Think Trump for all your entertainment needs in this critical medical crisis..."

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Nobody including Mori and Koike as well as Abe think we can hold Tokyo Olympics this summer. They are thinking how they can reduce economic losses.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Tokyo-Sapporo 2021, its a no-brainer.

For all the postponement crowd, this was not in the contract between ioc and japan. It's a huge undertaking that would disrupt so many things including the training schedules for the athletes. It's simple to tap away on your screen about postponement but try to remember athletes don't perform on your desired timetable.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Serrano:

He's not finally making sense, you're finally admitting he makes sense. :D

A couple of weeks ago he was bragging that the 15 cases in the USA would be down to zero very soon because he'd done such an incredible job. And that Corona was a hoax spread by the Do-Nothing Democrats (pretty big thing to do, invent a global pandemic, if they do nothing, no?)

So let me get this right - he makes sense today, in this one isolated incident because he has to look decisive for a change? Or he made sense when he said 15 cases was the upper limit?

Or, let's face it - he could say he had a perfect, Calvin-Klein-ad body and didn't wear make up, and you'd lap that up too?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

Trump needs to focus on the US situation. If he's so interested in the Olympics, why did he not say he would be pulling the US team from the competitions? Because he always wants give himself a way out. All talk, no walk. Private Bone Spur once again playing General.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Wasn't there big worries it would be "too hot". ? Maybe Tokyo got lucky. I am sure we can figure out how to do it in the fall or next year. They need to get over it, make a decision, and focus on the more important issues of the day. Keeping people healthy. Interesting how the virus will ding both Abe and Trump. Who could see that 3 months ago!

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Abe probably asked Trump to say this.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Considering that UEFA already postponed the Euros until next year, I don't see any reason as to why it would not be possible to move the Tokyo Olympics to next year. If we want 1) to see big crowds at events and 2) avoid big demands for refunding, it is more sensible to move the games in one year.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

It's impossible to organize the games this year.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Trump finally making some sense! Pinch me!

Ditto

0 ( +4 / -4 )

They can wait a little more. Besides, wasn't Trump the one who sayin' not too long ago that this whole hoax of a virus would just blow away before ya' knew it? Now he's trying to look like Action Man.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

First time I agree with Trump.

Congratulations.

Trump finally making some sense! Pinch me!

He's not finally making sense, you're finally admitting he makes sense. :D

-18 ( +6 / -24 )

How can they delay it if they’ve already sold the condominiums for the athletes village?

Oh yes, its all about the condo owners. They can't wait a year.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Wow. Short of insulting the food served in the Abe house, that has to be the most aggravating thing Trump could have said to him.

But I will sort of enjoy the display of gaman about to spew forth as the Japanese government tries to respond to that in the most diplomatic way possible.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

It's quite strange to see him move from spreading misinformation about coronavirus to taking it seriously.

I expect he now realizes that it was a mistake to fire the US pandemic response team back in 2018.

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Postponing it for one year is not a bad idea.

Folks could make preparations and concentrate on fighting this virus worldwide.

The Olympics are a needless distraction now, (no offense to Japan.)

13 ( +15 / -2 )

"You know, I like that better than I like having empty stadiums all over the place. I think if you cancel it, make it a year later, that's a better alternative than doing it with no crowd," he said.

You know, I agree with that. Makes sense. This begs the question of why is Trump the first foreign leader to call for this?

9 ( +15 / -6 )

A man who was calling coverage of the virus a "hoax" just a few days ago has now called for calling off the world's largest sporting event.

What a strange man.

13 ( +26 / -13 )

Pains me to admit that I'm agreeing with this guy

11 ( +18 / -7 )

Scheduling it without spectators is more of a no brainer than delaying it a year. Better for athletes who are peaking and broadcasters who can go on as planned (this is where the big money is).

How can they delay it if they’ve already sold the condominiums for the athletes village? Seems to be a big problem in that area, besides there’s no guarantee next year will be any different.

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

Amazing, about the only intelligent thing that's come out of Donny's mouth in regards to Covid19

-6 ( +15 / -21 )

KAGA 2020! Go Trump! He’s spot on.

-1 ( +20 / -21 )

Wow; In spite of the fact I cannot stand him I am in full agreement with Trump. He has now given Abe and the Tokyo Olympic committee a great face saving opportunity. They should take it and then start focus on containing the virus in Japan and taking care of the Japanese people.

@SimondB

Trump would do well to clean up his own backyard first. On Tuesday across South Korea 10,000 corona virus test were taken. On the same day across the whole of USA there were 8 tests taken. Yes, 8. That is why the figures for the US remain low.

I agree with this. Although Trump cannot personally manufacture the test kits he needs to be pushing to get this going.

Finally, last week we all read that Japan would have a plan announced on March 12. I have not heard the plan.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I mentioned the same thing to my wife a month ago. It's a no brainer.

21 ( +22 / -1 )

U.S. President Donald Trump came out Thursday as the first foreign leader to suggest delaying the Tokyo Olympics because of coronavirus, dropping a bombshell on his "good friend" Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"Maybe they postpone it for a year," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, 19 weeks before the opening ceremony in Tokyo's Olympic Stadium

Japan will agree or disagree?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Trump finally making some sense! Pinch me!

19 ( +26 / -7 )

Trump would do well to clean up his own backyard first.  On Tuesday across South Korea 10,000 corona virus test were taken.  On the same day across the whole of USA there were 8 tests taken.  Yes, 8.  That is why the figures for the US remain low.

8 ( +32 / -24 )

Make it in the Fall of next year.

30 ( +31 / -1 )

Putting on an Olympics with no crowd would mean Tokyo will be remembered as the worst olympics ever.

Tokyo-Sapporo 2021, its a no-brainer.

42 ( +46 / -4 )

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