Social media erupt with reactions to President Donald Trump’s revelation Friday that he and his wife Melania underwent Covid-19 tests, with a show of sympathy, mockery and anger over their efforts to minimize the dangers of the disease.
The president’s announcement on Twitter in the early morning of Friday garnered more than 1. 2 million likes in 8 hours and was shared or retwumed at similar levels.
According to the news site Axios, Trump’s most popular tweet, headlined the 2019 announcement that rapper A$ AP Rocky was released from criminals in Sweden. Axios analyzed knowledge of Trump’s Twitter file.
On Facebook, where Trump has about 29 million followers, the comments were supportive and mocking.
“Praying for our president and his circle of family candy so that the Lord will place a protective fence around them and eliminate all evil forces,” a Facebook user wrote.
But someone else replied, “Why are you going to quarantine yourself?You said it was a hoax. . . now it’s time to drink the punch!Or drink some kind of chemical. “
On Twitter, where Trump has about 86 million followers, the hashtag #TrumpHasCovid is a major trend.
One supporter tweeted, “Let the prayers and blessings of being fit that I send with these flowers soon make it strong and fit. “
– Anger, mockery –
Others expressed anger with the president for downplaying the pandemic that has led to more than seven million infections and more than 200,000 deaths in the United States.
“Are you going to make other people laugh wearing masks?” tweeted actress and activist Sophia Bush.
“Do you regret the lie with the other Americans for months?I ask those questions because I guess you’ll get the most productive, taxpayer-funded fitness care. I hope you recover. But you owe us answers. “
President Mary Trump’s long-time critic, wrote, “I reserve my sympathy, empathy, and depression for those in poor health and those who died because they were deceived, lied to, or ignored. “
Some expressed fears that civil unrest would intensify as a result of the news.
“I’m worried that if Trump dies as a result of COVID-19, his rabid fans will go from calling Covid a hoax to doing everything he can to call him a ‘Chinese virus’ and get rid of his anger opposed to Asian-Americans,” one said. Twitter user: “As a Chinese-American, it scares me. “
The news is an avalanche of memes, or photographs that give a satirical air, on social platforms.
One symbol showed the hand of sinking into the water, with the comment: “Only in 2020 can fate be so better that Donald Trump contracts the coronavirus 48 hours after vehemently denying science in the debate. “
Other reactions came in the form of videos on TikTok, the popular social app Trump tried to snatch from the Chinese or shut it down.
Some messages showed others dancing to celebrate the news.
A TikTok user commented in a message: “He hit the virus and admitted it, which I NEVER thought you’d admit!. . I wish you no one, but also . . . ized through your own firecracker !!!
bu-rl / dw