What Would Our Missing 1 Million COVID-19 Dead Think Today?

As of March 2025, the United States has reported approximately 1,222,603 deaths due to COVID-19. Some of them died still believing in the Trump disinformation campaign. Many died horrified they ever believed Trump or voted for him...

The missing one million

More than one million Americans died during the Covid-19 pandemic. Five years later, they remain largely invisible.

Jason Steinhauer

The question of how the "missing 1 million" Americans who died from COVID-19 would vote is an interesting and speculative one, as it's impossible to know their individual preferences. However, we can make some broad inferences based on various factors:

1. Demographic Impact: The pandemic disproportionately affected certain groups, including older individuals, communities of color, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Historically, demographic factors like age, race, and health status have influenced political preferences. Older Americans, for example, tend to lean more conservative, while younger, more diverse groups lean more liberal. However, COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups could have influenced future voting trends, potentially affecting both parties’ base.

2. Policy and Governance Influence: Many of the "missing" Americans died during the Trump administration, which led to significant political division over the handling of the pandemic. Some individuals may have become more politically active or altered their political leanings due to the perceived mishandling of the pandemic, with criticisms of the government’s response to COVID-19 potentially leading to a shift in voter sentiment away from certain political figures or policies.

3. Healthcare and Economic Factors: The pandemic underscored deep divisions in the country over healthcare access, economic support, and pandemic response. Those who suffered due to poor healthcare or financial hardship might have developed stronger support for policies promoting universal healthcare or better social safety nets, which are generally associated with the Democratic Party. Alternatively, those who felt that COVID-19 restrictions were overblown might have been more inclined to support conservative candidates who favored less government intervention.

4. Changes in Political Awareness: Some people may have been more motivated to vote as a result of losing loved ones to COVID-19, especially if their deaths were influenced by systemic issues like inadequate healthcare infrastructure or political negligence. This could have led to greater support for candidates promising change in those areas, such as those advocating for stronger public health systems, better pandemic preparedness, or healthcare reform.

Ultimately, it’s not just about who those "missing" Americans would vote for, but also about how their deaths impacted the political landscape. Their absence could contribute to changes in voting patterns, particularly in swing states, where their votes could have had a significant impact on elections.

Many of our dead were MAGA voters who changed their minds on their deathbed, shocked at what they had done, and Trump hadn't. How would they see reality different today?

It's a thought-provoking question, and while it's speculative, there are some possible angles to consider based on the nature of political shifts and the impact of personal experience.

1. Cognitive Dissonance and Reflection: For many people, political identity is deeply tied to their worldview, and shifting political views—especially later in life or during major personal crises—can create cognitive dissonance. If some of those who passed away from COVID-19 were MAGA voters who experienced profound regret on their deathbeds, it's possible they felt a deep internal conflict between their previous beliefs and the reality of what they experienced during the pandemic. In this case, they may have come to see the actions (or inactions) of leaders like Donald Trump as not only ineffective but potentially harmful, especially if they felt that more could have been done to save lives.

2. Disillusionment with Leadership: Many MAGA voters supported Trump, especially for his promises around American exceptionalism, economic prosperity, and law-and-order policies. However, if those same voters felt betrayed or misled by Trump's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, they might have come to view his leadership in a more negative light. For those who were directly impacted by the pandemic, this could lead to a significant change in how they viewed reality, potentially seeing Trump’s downplaying of the virus and lack of immediate action as a serious failure.

3. A Shift in Trust: If they were among those who regretted supporting Trump, they might have begun to see the need for a different type of leadership—one that prioritized science, healthcare, and empathy. This could lead them to question other aspects of their political beliefs, particularly regarding social safety nets, healthcare access, and government intervention during crises. The realization that their previous choice didn’t protect them or their loved ones might have sparked a deeper desire for change.

4. Impact of Pandemic Deaths on Political Consciousness: If these individuals came to the realization, particularly near the end of their lives, that the political system—and by extension, their support for a certain political figure—was contributing to their suffering or the suffering of those around them, it could have led to an emotional and intellectual awakening. Their regret might not just be about Trump, but about the broader political environment that enabled such inaction or misinformation.

5. How They'd See Reality Today: Assuming that many of these individuals, had they lived, were to engage in the political discourse of today, it’s likely they would be looking for leadership that acknowledges mistakes, prioritizes public health, and focuses on healing divisions rather than exacerbating them. They may be more receptive to candidates who emphasize unity, truth, and compassion over partisanship and conspiracy. For those who had been staunch MAGA voters, this shift would represent a significant departure from the political ideologies they once supported.

In essence, if those voters who passed away from COVID-19 had the chance to reflect and reconsider, they might see reality today as one where leadership is judged not by loyalty to a personality but by the ability to effectively address crises and protect people. Their regret could lead them to support policies and candidates that offer tangible solutions, rather than rhetoric.

Likely today, they would not be for Trump as they had originally been, considering they died because of his purposeful missteps and lack of empathy and compassion.

It's quite plausible that many of the Americans who died from COVID-19, particularly those who were staunch supporters of Donald Trump as POTUS45, might have experienced a shift in their perceptions of him and his administration's handling of the pandemic. Indeed, there are reports of exactly that. 

Also, studies have shown that counties with higher support for Trump in the 2020 election experienced higher COVID-19 death rates, suggesting a correlation between political affiliation and pandemic impact.

CIDRAP

Furthermore, the Trump administration's response to the pandemic faced significant criticism, including downplaying the virus's severity and promoting unproven treatments.

Times Union

These actions may have led some supporters to question their previous endorsement. It's conceivable that, in their final moments, some individuals reflected on the leadership decisions that contributed to the crisis, leading to feelings of regret or disillusionment.

However, it's important to acknowledge that political beliefs are deeply ingrained and can be resistant to change, even in the face of contrary evidence. While personal experiences, especially those as profound as facing a life-threatening illness, can influence one's views, they don't always lead to a complete reversal of political allegiance. Therefore, while some individuals might have reevaluated their support for Trump due to the pandemic's impact, others may have remained steadfast in their beliefs, interpreting events through their existing political lens.

DEATH after all, IS the greater arbiter of Reality, and the biggest form of being unable to face one's mistakes

Death is the ultimate and most irreversible Reality we all face. It's a stark confrontation with the consequences of our lives and decisions. For many, especially those nearing the end of life, it can serve as a powerful moment of reflection, a time when the weight of past choices becomes undeniable.

In the case of people who may have voted for Trump and later died due to the mishandling of the pandemic, it's possible that, in their final moments, they faced an undeniable reckoning with the consequences of their support for someone whose decisions might have directly impacted their survival. That moment could create a deep sense of regret, especially if they felt let down by someone they trusted to lead through such a critical time.

The emotional and existential impact of death can certainly amplify those realizations, as there's no escape from it. It can also lead to a reevaluation of beliefs and choices—especially in the context of a public health crisis where those choices had life-or-death consequences.

Ultimately, the reality of death does bring a clarity that nothing else in life can—forcing individuals to come face to face with their mistakes, their legacy, and the world they leave behind. In this way, it could lead to a profound shift in perspective, even if only in the final moments.

Here's a potential thought process for a MaGA voter who, in their final moments, begins to grapple with their regretted support for Donald Trump, particularly in light of how he unfolded the pandemic against us for what he perceived as best for his national perception, mostly only by his supporters:

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Initial Thoughts: "I always believed in Trump. He promised to make America great again. He spoke to my frustrations—about the elites, the government that didn't care about us, the economy, and our place in the world. I voted for him because he seemed like someone who understood our struggles. I believed he was tough, that he could get things done."

Facing the Pandemic: "But then the pandemic hit. At first, I didn’t think much of it—just like Trump said, maybe it wasn’t as bad as people were saying. But it kept spreading. People were dying, and the hospitals were overwhelmed. I watched as friends and family got sick. Some survived, but others didn't. I heard the way he downplayed the virus, calling it a hoax, telling people not to worry, and that we didn’t need to wear masks. I thought he knew best. I trusted him."

Cognitive Dissonance: "But now... looking back, I can’t help but wonder—was he wrong? Why didn’t he do more? Why didn’t he listen to the doctors? Why didn’t he act faster? There were experts saying we needed more testing, more precautions. And he just dismissed it all. Maybe he didn't care. Maybe he never really cared about us, the people he said he was fighting for."

Regret and Realization: "Now, here I am. I didn’t take the virus seriously enough. I thought I was invincible, or maybe I just didn’t want to believe it. But people died—so many people. And Trump... he kept pushing lies. How did I not see this sooner? I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but now it’s clear—he didn’t have a plan. He didn’t even try to fix it. If he had done more, maybe my friends would still be here. Maybe I’d still be here."

Reflection on Choices: "I’m looking back at all of this, and I realize that I was so blinded by my anger at the system, by the idea of someone shaking things up, that I couldn’t see the bigger picture. Maybe I was so focused on what Trump promised that I ignored what he was actually doing—or not doing. This isn’t just about politics anymore. This is about lives. About my life. About the people I love. And the truth is, Trump failed us. He let us down. And now we’re paying the price."

Final Thought: "I wish I had listened more, thought more critically about what I was supporting. I wish I had taken the time to see the flaws, not just in him, but in my own thinking. I’m sorry—sorry for all the people I encouraged, the things I believed that turned out to be lies. Maybe if I had done things differently, things might have turned out better for all of us. But it’s too late now. The damage is done."

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In this thought process, the individual would likely feel a profound sense of regret, realizing too late that their choices, their trust in a leader, may have contributed to a crisis that cost lives, including their own. The deathbed reflection could be a stark moment of clarity, where the realization of the failure of leadership and the pain of lost opportunities becomes undeniable. It would be a moment of confronting the truth about how their support for Trump, driven by anger or a desire for change, ultimately led them down a path of destruction that they hadn't fully understood until it was too late.

It's plausible that many MAGA voters who experienced personal loss during the COVID-19 pandemic underwent a significant shift in their perception of Donald Trump and his administration's handling of the crisis. Facing the death of loved ones due to the pandemic, some may have felt profound regret and disillusionment, especially considering Trump's downplaying of the virus and lack of decisive action. This disillusionment could lead them to reevaluate their previous support and decide against voting for Trump in subsequent elections.

Research indicates that Trump's approval ratings were significantly influenced by his handling of the pandemic. For instance, Gallup's data shows that Trump's approval ratings rarely topped 50% during his tenure, with notable fluctuations during the pandemic. Additionally, families of COVID-19 victims expressed anger towards Trump's comments minimizing the virus's severity, feeling that such remarks disrespected their experiences and losses.

Given these sentiments, it's quite reasonable to infer that some MaGA voters, particularly those directly affected by the pandemic's toll, might have reconsidered their support for Trump. This change in perspective could manifest in their decision not to vote for him in future elections, driven by a reassessment of his leadership during a critical time.

Following through with their thought process ending on the reality that Trump was a mistake...would they vote for him today...from what they could "see in the afterlife"? IS he even worse this go around? Here's a potential thought process that might conclude with the realization that voting for Trump was a mistake, followed by a reflection on his current state:

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Initial Thought:
"I remember how I felt back then—Trump spoke to my frustrations. He promised change, a better life for people like me. I believed he could fix what was broken in America. But now... looking back, it's clear he failed us. He failed me. The pandemic hit, and he couldn't even keep us safe. He lied, downplayed the virus, pushed false cures, and let people suffer."

Reflection:
"I can't undo what I did, but I can see now that supporting him was a huge mistake. I thought I was doing the right thing, but in reality, I was just holding on to a man who didn't care about the people he promised to protect. Too many lives were lost—lives that didn't have to be lost. Families torn apart. I could’ve taken a different path, seen the truth earlier, but I was too blinded by my anger and distrust in the system."

The Regret:
"I wish I could tell my family and friends that I see it now. I see the failure. I see how his lies hurt us all, how his refusal to take action cost lives—my life, maybe. I was loyal to a man who only cared about himself, not about us, not about America. Trump was the wrong choice, and I know that now. I won’t make that mistake again."

Looking Ahead:
"And if I could see the world now, from wherever I am—looking at what's happening today—it’s even worse. Trump is still pushing the same tired rhetoric. Still stoking fear, still dividing people. He's worse now, more dangerous than ever, and it’s clear that his intentions haven’t changed. The chaos, the lies, they haven’t stopped. If I could be there, if I could vote today, I wouldn’t vote for him. Not now, not ever. It was a mistake before, but it’s even more of a mistake now.

Now, if only all those still living and still supporting Donald Trump, could just see before they too die, for they kill our country, seeing it live on as an autocracy, an oligarchy, a kakistocracy... the dire reality of our current situation that they had a lot to do with bringing into our reality.

There is still time...if we can wrest control from these unAmerican actors under the Trump and MaGA authoritarian umbrella and bring America back to what our Founding Fathers had originally intended:

A nation based on freedom, self-governance, Laws, and the protection of individual rights. They sought to escape Tyranny and build a government with limited power, ensuring people’s freedoms were protected and giving them a voice in how their government protected them, and their interests...rather than the interests of merely the few and the powerful.

Compiled with aid of ChatGPT

My New Book - "Suffering Long Covid" October 2022

I felt the brutality of COVID-19 for the first time starting February 9, 2020. It was a Sunday. I spent the week with what I thought was the flu at first, but quickly realized was something I had neve reexperienced before. By the third night of trying to sleep and being unable to because I was counting my breaths, carefully trying not to cough... I realized something was very wrong.

Suffering Long Covid

I lied in bed debating going to the emergency department at the nearby hospital, only two miles from my house. I was exhausted after several nights of no sleep. If I drive, could I pass out? If I don't, could I die? Should I call an ambulance? And then, I passed out. I woke the next day actually...feeling a little better. The worst was over. 

But long covid was about the begin. That lasted somewhere between eight and fourteen months. Due to the nature of it, it is really hard to tell. I spent most of 2020 in my recliner in my living room. Awake, then asleep, lethargic. Exhausted. Sometimes feeling ill, sometimes not. I was feeling ill for one to three plus weeks each and every month of 2020 as it essentially zipped by. 

I was unsure at times over that next year if I was having reoccurring covid (by a month or two into it, I had realized I had contracted the new novel coronavirus), or if I was catching new iterations of covid. 

Or a new variation. I'd considered in the beginning when i realized what I had contracted, and survived, that I should write a book about it. But that first year or so I was just too exhausted and without energy to even think of it. I had brain fog. Weird blood clotting issues. My VA doctor had me take many tests and all came back looking like I was healthy. Except, I wasn't. 

March 28, 2022. Again it was a Sunday night. but early the next morning I was in the Emergency Department of St. Michael's Medical Center in Silverdale, Washington, eleven miles from my home.

It was a very disturbing night that went from paramedics at my home for the first time in my life and at 2AM. That saw me with sinus tachycardia, driving myself to the hospital in Bremerton, where I live. Two miles away. At 3AM. Paramedics had given me the OK to drive myself before they left and having offered me the ambulance. But I wanted to do it myself.

I ended up driving around in the dark, unable to find a massive medical center. So I went home and tried to sleep. After a few hours I got up and called the Veterans Administration triage nurse. She told me to drive to the next down that morning to the emergency department. So I did. It turns out the hospital two miles away, which I had used for twenty years for my kids and my family, had closed down only six months previous, and I hadn't heard about it.

I got a Zio chest patch heart monitor to wear for two weeks and then I was sent home. A week later I had paramedics at my house, again on a Sunday, again at 2AM. This time for blood pressure that was far too high.

I had more tests and again, I was healthy. Except, I wasn't. As I started feeling better, well enough to think, I thought I should write that book about this experience and share what I had learned. It started slow, but I got something down on paper. 

Eventually, I finished the book. Just as I had finished an internationally award winning documentary that spring of 2021, "Pvt. Ravel's Bolero", began as just a way to try to start thinking and working on something, anything, again.

And now that book is available, too. 

"Suffering Long Covid" is now available as a book and ebook on Amazon. I have included my daily logs that I kept for my own benefit at first and then for my doctor to prove some of what I had been experiencing. I've also tried to support things I say in the book with references and links to information. 

I'm not a medical professional but I am a researcher and writer. I thought my story was interesting and if nothing else, I had learned a lot about COVID-19 and Long Covid. As science and medicine learned, I learned. I had nothing else to do by feel ill and as I had energy, research what was happening inside me. Why I was so exhausted and kept feeling ill. While all the tests at hospitals said I was fine. When I wasn't, quite obviously.

The book was difficult to write, but got easier as time passed. It was interesting to read my logs as I was already months later forgetting how bad things had been. I realized I wish I had a book like this to have read, and maybe others might find it, in some way or another, useful to them.

So here it is...if you have long covid, and I hope you don't, sometimes it helps to see what others have gone though. if nothing else, there are some very interesting pieces of information and references in the book.

I wish you all well. Be healthy my friends! 

Cheers! Sláinte !

Should We Blame Pres. Trump for Damages by Coronavirus?

Should we blame Trump for the damages by coronavirus?

Uh, yeah? Pretty much! With great prejudice and appropriateness.

Why? OK, look...

It's long been known that Trump has considered his re-election has much to do with the economy. So should we blame him for this market crashing and economic shrinking JP Morgan say is inevitable, as well as COVID-19 hitting America, even though Trump says it won't?

Abso-fucking-lutely!

Yes, we should blame Donald John Trump for all that is bad that comes from this coronavirus pandemic. Yes indeed. But, what you ask?

Look, Trump has depended on the Obama economy to claim it as his own success. He and his supporters ludicrously claim it's Trump's bumbling and mumbling extremely bad management and his appointees, many of whom he has fired and replaced, fired and replaced, fearful of anything but "acting" appointees because he knows not what he does in his shotgun management style, which is a bad manager's way of managing.

Whenever I've seen Trump's miserably poor guessing as action, management style in a boss, a manager, or in a CEO, I got away from them ASAP, or found them to be soon replaced. Too often with a golden parachute, an advancement, or no repercussions except to the damages to the company they leave, in our rampantly out of control style of capitalism in America.

Trump has relied on Russian interference in our elections to get him elected. He found it so useful, he has asked Russia for it again, has denied it was Russia at all.

Trump has asked for China to do the same and help him get re-elected.

He has depended for decades on Russian crime money, the Russian mafia, the criminal Deutchebank money laundering entity, his own Russian money laundering properties, and Russian Oligarchs as well as American Kleptocrats to maintain his incredibly bad management and "business" style and his bullying and criminal mob-style orientation to "succeed".

Trump has depended on his "The Apprentice" make-believe "Donald Trump", the "great manager", the "great businessman", both vast lies, as his entity to prop him up to become POTUS.

Trump has consistently relied on made-up or outside entities to get him into the White House. Let's just hope he doesn't stay there.

So YES, we need to blame him for Coronavirus, for shutdowns, for the market crashing, for the economy shrinking, or a recession and he should reap those benefits in losing this election and being denigrated by the media until he crawls under the rock from when he emerged.

And all those he has brought out into the light with him, also need to slink away into history. Steve Nenuchin for instance, who was instrumental in people losing their homes in the 2008 financial debacle as well as others in the Trump administration.

In this sense, COVID-19, sad as any deaths may be and are coming to America, could be our Godsend in ridding America of Donald John Trump. Finally. Yes, it may take an "Act of God", because, in the style and wild claims of too many ridiculous American Christian leaders, God may indeed be pissed at us, for a Pres. Trump. And all the anti-Christian actions he has perpetrated upon us.

Even aside from all that, we cannot listen to a Pres. Trump who lies to us over and over, over three years, with over 16,000 lies. Bizarrely, literally every time he spoke. Now during a disaster or pandemic, we're supposed to believe he's suddenly telling the truth?

Really?

Not to mention, Trump has rotated some of the worst people to head administration, agencies, and departments, until he got the very worst of the worst, who will roll over without question and do whatever he wants.

So we're not just getting the worst people, we're getting all of them.

Several major fact-checking sites regularly fact-check Trump, including:
PolitiFact,[70] which awarded Trump its "Lie of the Year" in 2015,[71] 2017[72] and 2019.[73]
FactCheck.org,[74] which dubbed Trump the "King of Whoppers" in 2015.[75]
The Washington Post said in January 2020 that Trump had made more than 16,241 false or misleading claims as president,[1] an average of about 14.8 such statements per day.
The Toronto Star, which said that, as of May 2019, Trump had made almost 5,000 false statements since his inauguration.[76] -Wikipedia
#trump #gop #tepublican #conservative @realdonaldtrump REALDonaldTrump #putin #russia #china