After watching the public communication on COVID-19 of the two leaders, I think the (former) Prime Minister of Singapore is a better communicator than the President of the United States. Here are the reasons why PM Lee Hsien Loong is better in my opinion:
1. Be First
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed the nation on February 8, 2020, a day after raising the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level from Yellow to Orange and people started panic-buying instant food and toilet paper in Singapore. On the other hand, President Donald Trump’s announcement was made on March 12, 2020, a day after WHO declared COVID-19 as pandemic. During that time, COVID-19 has already reached alarming levels and severity.
2. Be Right
PM Lee Hsien Loong presented accurate and verifiable information about COVID-19 in his speech. For example, he compared the current mortality rate of COVID-19 (0.2%) to SARS (10%) and seasonal influenza (0.1%). On the other hand, President Trump only mentioned in his speech that “the risk is very, very low”, without saying what “very, very low” means and what kind of risk he is pertaining to. People may have different interpretations of what this means, and may lead to misinformation.
3. Be Credible
Because PM Lee Hsien Loong presented facts about the status of COVID-19 in his country, I think he sounded more credible than President Trump. He was also honest about the current possibility of the virus infecting a large number of people, and its possible effect to the healthcare system.
4. Express Empathy
In his speech, PM Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged the fear and anxiety that people were feeling, which he said are “natural human reactions”. He smiles occasionally and was calm during the delivery of his address, which I find reassuring. On the other hand, I found President’s Trump speech as monotonous. I also think that his speech was more focused on addressing the people’s fear of financial hardship caused by COVID-19 restrictions, and the people’s fear on COVID-19 was not emphasized and acknowledged very well.
5. Promote Action
Both leaders mentioned that each citizen has a role in preventing the spread of the virus. However, PM Lee Hsien Loong instructions to practice good personal hygiene were more specific. For example, he told people to take their temperature twice daily, and when not feeling well, avoid crowded places and see a doctor immediately. On the other hand, President Donald Trump mentioned in his speech that if people are sick, they should stay at home. Consulting a doctor was not mentioned.
6. Show Respect
Both leaders were respectful in their speech. However, PM Lee Hsien Loong was the only one to acknowledge the efforts of volunteers, students, healthcare workers, and other frontline workers in keeping their country running amidst the threat of COVID-19. For me this shows that he sees these people with respect and was grateful to them.
