But the people want the economy to improve. Trump is responding to their concerns. They're worried sick about their lost jobs or those they might lose. They're afraid their pensions will be gone; their savings will be inflated away. EVen Biden sees the handwriting on the wall pushing jobs and other economic arguments copied from Trump.
So Trump will tell the people what they want to hear. But good leadership would involve being honest with the people and doing the best for the long term. If that means dealing with Covid before the economy can return to a healthy state surely that is the right thing to do.
"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." Winston Churchill - May 1940. He had his failings, but he did understand leadership. Of course he could have said, ..."don't worry about the Nazis - they will not bother us - I'm sure they will go away soon and everything will be really good..." I think it took the UK about 50 years to pay off that debt. The alternative was worse. Of course Covid is not a threat on that scale, but leadership is leadership - not bullshit.