Probably true, but now they can test for it, and with that data it can be combated and limited. A president nowadays can order stay-in-place lockdowns or many other measures via TV and SM and stop it before it reaches pandemic levels. Problem is, we didn't do any of that.
I don't think he's a moron, so you have to assume he willfully disregarded the facts in hopes this would somehow fly by. In reality, if he'd done the right things it probably would have gotten him re-elected. Now he sunk his own ship, though he'll try to blame everyone else for it for absolute sure.