Could you please correct this for me?

Would you kindly correct the following? Could you reword and tell me if these words work : lax, lenient, firm, harsh?

The president was too lax/lenient in his speech/gave a lax speech. He should have been more firm in/about what he had said. He placed the county under/in lockdown saying people were only allowed to go out for groceries, work and exercise. He should have been more firm in that he should have said that people would get fined and not to exercise. He should have taken matters more seriously and harsher measures.

Is “lax/lenient” and “firm” correct in this context of a speech?

Is it correct to be “firm” in what you say?

Is “harsher” correct in the sentence about “measure”?

Thank you for helping.