Over the course of the novel coronavirus pandemic, US President Donald Trump has admitted to have knowingly downplayed the seriousness of the illness.
So when Trump tested positive for COVID-19 early on Friday, experts say it may now be difficult for him and his administration to be trusted.
Specifically, Business Insider reports it may be difficult for Trump to navigate a public image as a 'strong leader,' given his long track record of lies.
USC communications professor Karen North says that as Trump's stance on the pandemic has been dismissive of the threat, he can't change tune quickly.
He's out of commission on a topic that just went in opposition to his rhetoric. And so they now have a messaging problem, and they're going to have to figure out what their message is going to be. Professor Karen North University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism