Chapter 8: The Pandemic, the Protests, and the Politics of Collapse (2020)

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The Bear and the Eagle

Volume 1: The Unexpected Victory (2016–2017)

January – November 2020
Wuhan – Washington – Moscow – Minneapolis – Geneva

2020 began with threats of war and ended with mass death, economic collapse, and a contested U.S. election. In a year that would rewrite global history, the Trump–Putin axis became both background and frame: two strongmen navigating crisis, each defining leadership in his own image.

But while Vladimir Putin tightened control, Donald Trump faced rebellion—from within institutions, cities, and even his own health agencies. It was not a war of missiles, but of narratives, failures, and legitimacy.

The Virus Arrives

In late December 2019, Chinese authorities reported cases of pneumonia in Wuhan. By January 11, 2020, the first death was confirmed. The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency on 30 January.

The first U.S. case was reported on 20 January 2020 in Washington state. Trump initially downplayed the danger, stating on 22 January:

“We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China.”
— Trump to CNBC (2020)

Meanwhile, Putin moved swiftly. Russia closed its 2,600-mile border with China by 30 January and implemented strict domestic quarantine laws. By March, Kremlin critics warned that COVID-19 would be used to expand digital surveillance and centralise power.

They were right.

Trump’s Pandemic Response

Throughout spring 2020, the U.S. federal response faltered. While public health officials like Dr Anthony Fauci advised lockdowns and masks, Trump:

  • Contradicted CDC guidelines
  • Promoted unproven treatments (including hydroxychloroquine and injecting disinfectant)
  • Held large campaign rallies during outbreaks
  • Blamed China, the WHO, and Democratic governors

The U.S. would go on to suffer over 230,000 COVID deaths by November 2020—the highest absolute death toll globally (CDC, 2020).

Putin used the moment to reinforce his own narrative:

“You see what happens when a state is governed through chaos and ego rather than science.”
— Putin, June 2020 (TASS, 2020)

Putin’s Pandemic Power Play

While the West descended into crisis, Russia passed constitutional amendments via a controversial referendum in July 2020—allowing Putin to remain president until 2036. Despite the pandemic, the vote was held with limited transparency.

The result:

  • 78% approval,
  • recorded turnout of 68%,
  • and allegations of ballot stuffing and coercion (OSCE, 2020).

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny decried the referendum as “a coup in slow motion.” He would later be poisoned with Novichok in August, an attack widely attributed to the Russian state (Bellingcat, 2020).

George Floyd and American Upheaval

On 25 May 2020, George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on his neck for over nine minutes.

The footage went viral. Mass protests erupted across all 50 U.S. states under the banner of Black Lives Matter. Trump responded with:

  • Calls to “dominate the streets”
  • Threats to deploy active-duty military
  • The forced removal of peaceful protestors from Lafayette Square, so he could pose with a Bible in front of St John’s Episcopal Church

International allies were stunned. Putin remained silent, allowing Russian state media to cover U.S. protests extensively, portraying America as a nation on the brink of collapse.

The Disinformation War Continues

Throughout 2020, U.S. intelligence agencies warned that Russia was again interfering in the election, using updated strategies:

  • Amplifying anti-Biden narratives via fake accounts and conspiracy websites
  • Targeting minority voters to suppress turnout
  • Promoting divisive pandemic misinformation on vaccines and lockdowns

According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI, 2021), Russia aimed to “denigrate President Biden’s candidacy and the Democratic Party” while bolstering Trump’s image.

Social media platforms, especially Facebook and Twitter, scrambled to remove state-sponsored troll farms—but the damage was done. Millions of Americans received disinformation that would shape political beliefs long after the votes were cast.

The 2020 Election: Chaos and Contestation

In a year of record mail-in voting due to COVID-19, election night results were delayed. Trump declared premature victory, tweeting:

“Frankly, we did win this election.”

Over the next 48 hours, Biden’s lead grew in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.

On 7 November 2020, major networks called the race:
Joe Biden had won, with 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232.

Trump refused to concede. His legal team, led by Rudy Giuliani, launched lawsuits in multiple states, all of which were eventually dismissed or defeated.

Putin, notably, delayed recognition of Biden’s victory for several weeks—waiting until 15 December, well after most other global leaders.

Putin’s Strategic Gain

Though Trump would leave office, the Kremlin viewed 2020 as a net win:

  • U.S. credibility and unity were eroded.
  • Western institutions were disoriented by pandemic failures and racial unrest.
  • Russia had secured constitutional permanence, expanded influence in Libya, Syria, and the Caucasus, and watched NATO flounder amid mixed messages from the White House.

As winter approached, Putin stood entrenched.
Trump stood isolated, but far from defeated.

The next chapter would not begin with diplomacy—but with insurrection.

References

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