As of this weekend, the United States will soon pass 100,000 deaths due to the Coronavirus. The pandemic is a crisis of staggering proportions, but this weekend, President Donald Trump decided to go golfing on both Saturday and Sunday, even as the United States continues to struggle. While he spent his time complaining about those trying to launch the slightest scrutiny of his administration’s actions, leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) stepped up to help fill in the leadership gap. This Sunday afternoon, she spoke out with a somber reminder of the human toll of the crisis.
Trump doesn't just golf while Americans die.
He golfs at Trump properties.
So far his golfing has cost you and me $134,000,000.
So he is stealing our money, while we die.
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) May 24, 2020
Including a link to a story from The New York Times outlining the U.S.’s approach of the grim marker of 100,000 total Coronavirus deaths, Pelosi commented:
‘The losses suffered by our American family have been staggering — every story heartbreaking in its own way. As we near 100,000 lives lost, we pray for those who have passed, their loved ones and all who are working to save lives & protect our communities.’
The losses suffered by our American family have been staggering — every story heartbreaking in its own way. As we near 100,000 lives lost, we pray for those who have passed, their loved ones and all who are working to save lives & protect our communities. https://t.co/vaBsirLu5c
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 24, 2020
In stark contrast, this Sunday morning, Trump spent his own time on Twitter spreading brazen lies like the ludicrous conspiracy theory that former Congressman Joe Scarborough had something nefarious to do with the death of a staffer in his Congressional office. That staffer’s untimely passing was due to natural causes — she had a heart condition, but Trump has launched off into lunacy and suggested Scarborough might be a murderer anyway.
Sunday’s @nytimes front page. Incredibly powerful. Loss doesn’t even describe it. pic.twitter.com/WIqpbLMUv0
— Jada Yuan (@jadabird) May 23, 2020
As for the U.S. virus toll, The New York Times ran a special piece this Sunday featuring the names of 1,000 of those who have died from the Coronavirus in the United States so far. Across the entire front page and a significant portion of the inner pages, the paper published these names and brief anecdotes about the lost individuals’ lives. The feature attracted a lot of attention from across the internet as an expression of the national mourning that has been unfolding across the country amidst the sudden loss of tens of thousands of lives. The only headline on the front page of the Sunday Times edition called the situation an “incalculable loss.”
Memorial Day, indeed. Tomorrow’s front page. pic.twitter.com/qazen5k4e9
— katie rosman (@katierosman) May 23, 2020
Check out Twitter’s response to Pelosi below:
