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Early Friday morning Trump tweeted that he contracted COVID-19 along with First Lady Melania Trump.
The news comes after White House aide Hope Hicks tested positive. Hicks was in close proximity to Trump and several White House officials after she was allowed to travel even though they had full knowledge of her condition.
The move shows the lack of care for the American public as Trump and his aides held rallies and roundtables with those from the most vulnerable populations.
Now whether you label it karma, the October Surprise or irony, make no mistake that Trump’s diagnosis goes to show that it’s only a matter of time and opportunity for Ms. Rona if you refuse to wear a mask or social distance. Both which Trump has proudly advocated against since the quarantine lockdowns were initiated in March.
There are already conspiracy theories being thrown about arguing that Trump’s announcement is a hoax to get out of the next debate against former Vice President Joe Biden on October 15. It remains unclear what this means for the presidency, or if Mike Pence, who tested negative, will be tapped to step in for Trump while he is under quarantine. Some believe it is also a ploy for Trump to announce a full recovery in days in an attempt to continue downplaying the seriousness of the virus.
What’s real is that over 200,000 Americans have died and they did not have to. Lives were lost because inept leaders are at the helm of this nation. But a large portion of us were already aware of that.
Here are some of the major lies spewed from Trump’s mouth denying science, logic and reason during the longest year we’ve ever had to live through.
September
Earlier this week at the first presidential debate Trump made a mockery of Biden choosing to wear a mask at public events. Reports surfaced that Trump’s family, except for Melania Trump, entered the debate hall refusing to wear masks.
During a September rally on September 21 in Swanton, Ohio, Trump said that the coronavirus affects “virtually nobody.”
In early September, Washington Post associate editor Bob Woodward, who came to fame as half of the historic Watergate reporting team, released snippets of 18 interviews he recorded of Trump for his book “Rage.” In those interviews Trump confessed to downplaying the coronavirus to the American people, maintaining that he “didn’t’ want to create panic.”
August
During an interview with Axios that aired on August 4, Trump claimed the coronavirus was “under control” and responded “it is what it is” when reporter Jonathan Swan pushed back on the number of Americans dying from COVID-19.
July
“99%” of COVID-19 cases are “totally harmless,” Trump said on July 4.
He followed that up with another lie on July 6. “We (the United States) now have the lowest fatality (mortality) rate in the World.”
June
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Trump held his first indoor public rally during the pandemic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, against all logical recommendations. It was initially scheduled for Juneteenth as a slap in the face to Black Americans who observe the holiday which marked the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. Trump held the rally on June 20.
His appearance also attempted to degrade Black residents whose ancestors were affected by the racial riots during the early 20th century in Tulsa.
At the rally Trump said the pandemic is “fading away. It’s going to fade away.”
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Herman Cain, a Trump supporter and former presidential candidate, contracted COVID-19 and died a month later after attending the rally.
May
“Coronavirus numbers are looking MUCH better, going down almost everywhere,” Trump said in May. He made this claim even though most states were experiencing a surge or a plateau at the time.
April
In April, Trump incredulously suggested that the coronavirus could be waged out with ultra ray lights. He also said that injecting disinfectants could be a possible cure.
During a public briefing after the CDC recommended mask wearing as an efficient tool on April 3, Trump said mask wearing was voluntarily thing and confessed that he wasn’t going to abide.
“You can do it. You don’t have to do it. I’m choosing not to do it, but some people may want to do it, and that’s OK. It may be good. Probably will. They’re making a recommendation. It’s only a recommendation,” Trump said.
March
The month of March was the only time we saw Trump’s concern go slightly up. But most of his anguish was geared towards a possible economic slowdown. He began the month by saying it was safe to fly on March 4, and told the American people on March 6 that “anybody that wants a test, could get a test.” That was far from any semblance of possibility due to the red tape of access and pricing, especially for those without insurance.
He finally declared a national emergency on March 13.
But it all went to hell after he began pushing the drug hydroxycholorquine, a drug used to treat malaria and lupus. Medical officials have stated that the drug has not been approved for COVID-19 treatment, even as Trump persisted its success over the summer months.
February
In early February Trump promised that the virus would weaken in the warmer months even though that’s just not how viruses work.
“When we get into April, in the warmer weather—that has a very negative effect on that, and that type of a virus,” he said on February 7.
He also promised that the outbreak would be temporary: “It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle—it will disappear,” he said on February 27.
January
According to NPR, Trump was briefed on the coronavirus twice in January.
On January 28, Trump’s national security advisor, Robert O’Brien, told the president, “This virus will be the biggest national security threat you face in your presidency.”
Two days later, Trump said the following during a speech:
“We think we have it very well under control. We have very little problem in this country at this moment — five. And those people are all recuperating successfully. But we’re working very closely with China and other countries, and we think it’s going to have a very good ending for us. So that I can assure you.”
November – December 2019
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American workers at the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Trump and his officials of the coronavirus in 2019, according to The Washington Post.
