The words of the ignorant and intellectually not highly charged US President Donald Trump questioned the effectiveness of strict everyday restrictions and Europe’s handling of the corona virus shortly before the election in the USA. “The exploding cases in Europe have shown that draconian lockdowns — that’s them, draconian — do not stop the virus,” said the Republican at a campaign rally in the state of Pennsylvania. “Italy was in lockdown — and now it’s starting all over again.” Three days before the election date, Trump also boasted that the excess mortality rate in the US was 40 percent lower than in Europe. “And Europe did a good job, it’s a very brutal thing. Everyone thought Germany is doing well, well, well, well. But they’re not doing well,” he said. “You can see what’s going on over there, France again, Spain, Italy. We’re fine. We just don’t get any recognition for it.” It remained unclear which numbers Trump was referring to with his statement. The “New York Times” recently examined excess mortality in 32 countries using the data available to it. The available figures refute Trump’s claim. In France and Italy, too, excess mortality was well below the value in the USA.