Politicians and other public figures in the US and around the world have reacted to Donald Trump’s Covid diagnosis by offering well-wishes, while some pointed out that the president had repeatedly downplayed the dangers of the pandemic and undermined public health guidelines.
A government spokesperson in France wished the US leader a swift recovery but questioned Trump’s repeated dismissals of the risks of the disease. “This demonstrates that the virus spares no one, including those who have shown scepticism,” Gabriel Attal said.
State-controlled media in China, a country Trump has sought to blame for the pandemic, was more cutting: “President Trump and the first lady have paid the price for his gamble to play down the Covid-19,” tweeted Hu Xijin, editor in chief of China’s Global Times newspaper.
In the US, words of support came from across the political divide. Trump’s election rival, Joe Biden, said he was praying “for the health and safety of the president and his family.”
Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery. We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 2, 2020
Rev Jessie Jackson, the civil rights activist, wrote: “We must all pray for the full recovery of the president [and] his wife. For whatever religious or political persuasion you may be, we must all pray as millions of people are affected by this disease.”
We sincerely pray the President& the First Lady do not have the worst of this disease.We must all pray for the full recovery of the President& his wife.For whatever religious or political persuasion you may be, we must all pray as millions of people are affected by this disease.
— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) October 2, 2020
When the pandemic struck, Jackson had written to Trump urging testing for the 2.2 million people incarcerated in the US – many of whom have died or fallen ill as serious outbreaks spread through the prison system.
Rachel Maddow – a host on MSBNC who has been highly critical of the president – wrote: “God bless the president and the first lady. If you pray, please pray for their speedy and complete recovery – and for everyone infected, everywhere.”
Tulsi Gabbard, the congresswoman for Hawaii who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, sent “best wishes … during this difficult time”.
My husband Abraham and I offer our best wishes and aloha to President @realDonaldTrump and the First Lady @FLOTUS and praying for their speedy recovery. We also send our best wishes to Ivanka, Tiffany, Donald Trump Jr., Eric, and Barron during this difficult time. #TrumpHasCovid
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) October 2, 2020
Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, said Trump’s diagnosis “is a total failure” by the White House team to protect the president.
This is a nightmare.
— Ashish K. Jha (@ashishkjha) October 2, 2020
COVID19 is a serious infection, especially for someone who is older like Mr. Trump.
I can't believe he was infected. This is a total failure by WH team to protect the President
Wishing both the President and The First Lady and speedy recovery. https://t.co/YVA2WpeNCu
World leaders, including the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, who himself contracted coronavirus, also offered support.
Like millions of Israelis, Sara and I are thinking of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and wish our friends a full and speedy recovery. https://t.co/UcxQpsxBLE
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) October 2, 2020
My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 2, 2020
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, opted for a telegram to wish Trump a swift recovery. “I am certain that your inherent vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus,” the message read.
Many others pointed out that Trump, who has flouted public health recommendations, refusing to wear a mask to protect himself and others from the spread of disease, should have expected this outcome.
“BET YOU WANNA” wear a mask now 😩😩😩 https://t.co/jp6NTiGztO
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) October 2, 2020
The writer Tracy Clayton recalled the moment when the president had suggested people might inject bleach as a treatment for the disease.
has he tried injecting disinfectants yet?
— tracy clayton aka CHUBBA BEEF (@brokeymcpoverty) October 2, 2020
George Conway, an outspoken critic of Trump and a lawyer who is married to former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, wrote: “He failed to protect the country. He couldn’t even protect himself.”
He failed to protect the country.
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) October 2, 2020
He couldn't even protect himself.
