Coronavirus
He's empirically right.
The data:
Countries that vacillated, gave contradictory signals, and resisted "authoritarian measures": An uninterrupted rising log curve. Practical result so far: Close to maximum infection rate, maximum deaths.
Countries that embraced "authoritarian" measures but were slow in doing so: A gradually flattening log curve. Practical result so far: Maximum infection rate and deaths to begin with, now gradually reducing, but not before inflicting chaos.
A country that had no problem immediately applying "authoritarian" measures: A quicky flattened log curve. Close to minimal infection rate/deaths.
See also, Taiwan, Singapore etc.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries
This is why the talk of authoritarianism is weasel talk. There is a winning strategy here. It's illustrated by the final log curve. It's called "The Hammer". Done right, it takes about a month and you minimize both economic damage and loss of life. You don't have to be authoritarian to support it, you just have to be not stupid. (And ironically not implementing it results in having to apply even more authoritarianism down the line just so your country doesn't fall to pieces.)
There's the data. Again, those arguing against "authoritarian" moves are empirically wrong. In a situation like this, you play the winning strategy and return to your political starting point, or you vacillate, play politics, and descend into chaos.
(And this doesn't mean you
only rely on "authoritarian measures", mass testing and tracking is also important, but there is nothing more effective than an immediate and total lockdown. No contact, no spread.)