President Donald Trump has consistently refused to take much of any criticism seriously during the Coronavirus outbreak across the U.S. Although for weeks and weeks on end, American health care workers struggled to get access to adequate large-scale Coronavirus testing, testing capacity has recently surged — and on Twitter this Wednesday, Trump focused on the surge and ignored the weeks and weeks prior in which the virus spread without testing even available to track it. He keeps vaguely insisting that his efforts have saved thousands and tens of thousands of lives — but there’s seriously no evidence for that. It’s wishful thinking, at best.
“President Trump’s decision to very early on restrict travel from China saved tens of thousands of lives.” @LouDobbs @FoxBusiness
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020
Trump tweeted:
‘Just reported that the United States has done far more “testing” than any other nation, by far! In fact, over an eight day span, the United States now does more testing than what South Korea (which has been a very successful tester) does over an eight week span. Great job!’
Just reported that the United States has done far more “testing” than any other nation, by far! In fact, over an eight day span, the United States now does more testing than what South Korea (which has been a very successful tester) does over an eight week span. Great job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020
But again — to be clear here, he’s congratulating himself for finally getting around to what should have been in place weeks and even months prior. To even partly suggest that South Korea has lagged with testing at all is absolutely outlandish — they completed much of their testing weeks ago, and they used those tests to track the virus and get it under control. In the U.S., in the wake of Trump spending weeks deriding concern about the virus as a “hoax,” the virus is now spreading far and wide — and Trump’s focus appears to be on congratulating himself.
I am working very hard to help New York City & State. Dealing with both Mayor & Governor and producing tremendously for them, including four new medical centers and four new hospitals. Fake News that I won’t help them because I don’t like Cuomo (I do). Just sent 4000 ventilators!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020
The four hospitals that we (FEMA) are building in NYC at the Javits Convention Center are moving along very well, ahead of schedule. Many additional ventilators also delivered. Good conversation with Governor Cuomo!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020
Besides the above, Trump also retweeted a whole slew of posts from the far-right “news” site Breitbart, and he mocked lawyer Michael Avenatti, Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden, and even Utah Senator Mitt Romney (R), who’s been under quarantine because of the possibility that he has the Coronavirus.
Gee, that’s too bad. Such a fine guy. Presidential aspirations you know! https://t.co/MgOWgAzMxs
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020
The Democrat’s Best & Finest! https://t.co/xAmbP1Nnm0
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020
This is really great news! I am so happy I can barely speak. He may have been a terrible presidential candidate and an even worse U.S. Senator, but he is a RINO, and I like him a lot! https://t.co/42zpWW9vzy
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2020
As late night host Seth Meyers put it, Trump’s attacks on Romney are “a reminder that Donald Trump never passes up an opportunity to remind us that he is an awful person, even the midst of a global pandemic.”
Meyers went off on Trump's latest attack on Mitt Romney, who is currently in self-quarantine 👇👇👇
“That’s just a reminder that Donald Trump never passes up an opportunity to remind us that he is an awful person, even the midst of a global pandemic."https://t.co/gHe26S0s1T
— Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) March 24, 2020
Check out Twitter’s response below…
FACT CHECK: US testing still isn't close to what South Korea has done
South Korea has tested 1 in 170 people
The United States has tested 1 in 1,090
That's more than 6 times less, per capita, than South Koreahttps://t.co/5UeBdG0mNv
— Edward Hardy (@EdwardTHardy) March 25, 2020
