In March, Trump’s administration ordered the military to plan a massive offensive against an Iraqi militia group linked to Iran, followed days later by reports of ‘unusual U.S. troop movements’ in Iraq. In early April, Trump himself seemed to verify the reporting by tweet-threatening to attack Iran, continuing a dangerous cycle of rhetorical escalation that could quickly turn into action on the ground.

As Trump prepares and positions the military for conflict with Iran, he is — quite literally at the same time — making similar outrageous decisions across the globe in Venezuela. He recently declared Navy ships would be stationed off the Venezuelan coast for ‘counter-narcotic operations’ — claiming, without evidence, that the drug cartels are exploiting the pandemic. Since that announcement, multiple officials, including a senior Pentagon source, have told Newsweek that the operation had nothing to do with the virus. 

It is clear that Donald Trump will do anything to distract from his administration's appalling and inadequate response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Add your name NOW and tell Congress: The U.S. government must focus on the coronavirus pandemic, not Trump’s devastating military adventurism.