Yes. Trump is to blame. That publication was typical of the simplistic thinking/writing I've come to expect from right-wing media.

Trump had almost exactly 1 year with COVID. It's been a total of four years now. As you say, give him credit for NOT interfering with development of the vaccine. But his continual misinformation and obstruction about almost everything else cost a lot of lives. (I'm still surprised he didn't fire his CDC head, who contradicted him every time he spoke.)

That article might as well blame whomever wins in 2028 "we just passed 2M COVID-related deaths, and it's all [insert winner in 2028]'s fault!!"

Frankly, that's just stupid. COVID is going to be with us forever, now. Or at least as long as our species survives.**


**And I'm not blaming Trump for that bit. I'm blaming the lab and/or wet market. But once it was out, no POTUS could have stopped it. A reaction not based in denial would have saved a lot of lives, however.