With a single tweet,?? ?? ??? Donald Trump has blatantly put the lives of the American people at risk.
On Monday afternoon, Trump tweeted to announce that he will be leaving Walter Reed Medical Center at 6:30 p.m. ET, and then proceeded to tell his 86.9 million followers not to fear COVID-19, the deadly virus that has already killed 209,199 Americans.
Trump was admitted to Walter Reed on Friday nightfollowing his positive COVID-19 diagnosis, and in the days since he arrived there's been a great deal of confusion surrounding the diagnosis timeline, his treatment, and his health.
After announcing that he'd be leaving the medical facility, Trump wrote, "Feeling really good! Don't be afraid of Covid. Don't let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!"
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The fact that the president of the United States would tell the people of his country not to be afraid of a deadly virus that's killed more than 200,000 Americans in the past several months, is almost too irresponsible to even comprehend. And it's crucial to remember that even if Trump fully recovers from this virus, he received excellent medical care as the president that so many other Americans wouldn't have access to if they were diagnosed.
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On Sunday, Trump was criticized for putting the health of several secret service agents at risk by taking an accompanied drive around Walter Reed Medical Center so that he could wave to his supporters outside. And in the days since his diagnosis, his team has continued to downplay the severity of the virus and show reluctance towards making masks mandatory at the White House. In the past week multiple people in Trump's orbit have also tested positive for the virus, including first lady Melania Trump, Trump's senior aide Hope Hicks, and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. This makes Trump's callous comments about the coronavirus even more perplexing.
When it comes to taking proper precautions for this virus, Trump can't be trusted to give sound, scientific advice. You must rely on the guidance of medical professionals and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention going forward. Enforce social distancing and wear face masks to protect yourself and others. And no matter what the president of the United States tweets, know that you need to take this virus seriously.
UPDATE: Oct. 5, 2020, 5:26 p.m. PDT: After returning to the White House from Walter Reed Medical Center on Monday evening, Trump continued to downplay the impact of the coronavirus on Twitter. In a produced video on the White House balcony, Trump said, "Don't let it dominate. Don't let it take over your lives. Don't let that happen."
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Of course, Trump and his administration are responsible for letting the deadly virus dominate American lives. The president has often scoffed at mask wearing (he wore one as he exited the hospital but took it off when he arrived at the White House as a publicity stunt for the news cameras) and taken steps to politicize the pandemic. Americans have died, lost their jobs, and are worried about their children's educations and futures. The president's message: "I know there's a risk, there's a danger, but that's OK."