One day, President Donald Trump told Americans that he bore no share of the blame for testing missteps that have increased the devastation wrought by coronavirus.

"I don't take responsibility at all," he said.

A few days later, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo welcomed accountability for the extraordinary measures his state has put in place to stop the spread of the virus, including the closure of "nonessential" businesses beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday.

"If someone wants to blame someone, blame me," Cuomo said this week. "There is no one else responsible for this decision.”

Even as they approach each other relatively cautiously, two of the nation's most powerful executives are exhibiting nearly opposite leadership styles, policy instincts and public relations strategies. That's happening against the backdrop of an ideological battle in Washington, in New York and around the country that pits those who care primarily about stopping the spread of the virus against those who say the cures will cause an economic calamity or a federal intervention in the private sector that dwarfs the damage of the disease.

"The daily press briefings out of Washington and Albany over the last week have provided a split screen in leadership. Whereas Governor Cuomo has been ruthlessly direct, faithful to the facts, and in command at all times, the president has lashed out at the media, sowed confusion,and shirked responsibility at every turn," said Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist who advised Cuomo's 2018 campaign.

"There's a lot of fear and uncertainty out there. People want a leader, they want the facts, and they want to know that even though things won't be easy, they will be OK," she added. "Governor Cuomo is offering a sense of calm and steadiness — the president is not."