To the Editor:

Re “Focus on Governors, Not Trump,” by Nikki R. Haley (Op-Ed, April 10):

Nikki Haley’s struggle to obscure President Trump’s ineptitude during Covid-19 contains a testimonial ode to Barack Obama’s leadership. Ms. Haley recounts a bygone era when as governor of South Carolina — under Mr. Obama — she could count on cooperation with the president to put “differences aside to serve the immediate needs of our joint constituents.”

Ms. Haley also writes: “It’s true that states shouldn’t have to compete, to bid against each other for supplies at inflated prices. And party politics shouldn’t factor in disbursing federal resources to states.”

While this was not the case for Ms. Haley under Mr. Obama’s presidency, tragically, because of Mr. Trump’s failure to lead or care, this is now exactly the situation. Governors are leading heroically, battling a shameful void of federal leadership and coordination, and a failure to provide resources.

Ms. Haley’s shameless audition letter for vice president can’t camouflage the simple truth that she was lucky to serve under a deft leader when she faced crises as governor. Today, as Americans die by the thousands and overflow morgues, our governors live in a different universe, left on their own to fight for resources while our president obsesses about ratings and vendettas.