Remembering Leadership

Photo Credit: Robert D. Ward, DOD

Today is the nineteenth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Just as previous generations asked each other “where were you when Kennedy was shot?” or “where were you on D-Day?” most of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when the World Trade Centers were hit. I was in a hotel in Soho and heard the first plane fly overhead, then watched in disbelief from my room as both towers collapsed.

The aftermath of that horrific tragedy is similarly etched in most of our brains. Then-president George Bush famously wet himself and hid behind a bookcase in a kindergarten classroom when he heard the news. He then went on to declare war against the “axis of evil,” commit war crimes against “enemy combatants,” and invade Iraq under false pretenses without ever actually killing or apprehending Osama bin Laden. But that’s the topic of another blog post.

The unexpected star of 9/11 was New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Jumping into action with his FDNY baseball cap, Rudy exemplified what we want from our leaders in times of crisis. He threw caution to the wind, stood side-by-side with first responders, acted decisively and marshaled the courage in the face of catastrophe to make us believe everything would eventually be alright.

The public liked what they saw. Rebranded as “America’s Mayor” as a result of his leadership, Giuliani saw his approval ratings more than double — from a dismal 36% a year before the attacks to 79% a few weeks after. As astonishing as it is to say about the man Rudy Giuliani has become today, he was a hero at the time.

Listening to yet another ranting and incoherent Trump press conference today was a stark reminder of how absent that style of leadership is within our country today. Of all the blunders, incompetence and scandals of this presidency, Trump’s inherent inability to lead during this time of crisis may be the most appalling. The irony is that his so-called “China virus” was a golden opportunity that Trump missed. If he had merely acted as a compassionate, empathetic human being during this crisis, he might have seen a similar surge in popularity.

But even with Rudy Giuliani himself, no doubt, coaching the President from the shadows on how to react, he couldn’t do it. Rudy literally could have played the CNN video tape of himself in the aftermath of 9/11. Showing how he rose to the occasion. How he put others ahead of himself. How he rallied not just a city but an entire nation in response, inspiring confidence that we would find a way through and emerge stronger. The playbook was right there.

In the face of a similar calamity, though, Trump has done the opposite. His has been a case study in how not to lead in crisis. Instead of leadership, we’ve heard nothing but grievance, anger and obfuscation. Rather than unifying us together in a response, he has further divided and polarized our nation. Instead of taking accountability, he has blamed others, shirked responsibility, downplayed the risk, and attributed everything to the “fake news.” In short, Trump has been the antithesis of leadership throughout this crisis.

At this point, there is little I can say that might persuade a Trump devotee to change their minds. The daily, obvious indicators of his lack of leadership, integrity and character have somehow been written off. His sheer inability for compassion or empathy seen as virtues. The negative perceptions all attributed to the deep state. But for the few undecided voters out there, especially on a day of remembrance like today, I hope you believe… we deserve better.