Trump Retweets Suggestion He Should Be ‘Reversing the Country’s Course’ on Coronavirus Containment
President Donald Trump sent a bevy of tweets and retweets on Monday morning from a variety of verified and unverified accounts. The topics ranged from praise of his response to the Covid-19 outbreak to attacks on former Vice President Joe Biden.
One particularly concerning retweet, however, focused on the idea that Trump should reverse course on measures taken to contain the virus because of the damage those measures will do the economy. Trump had tweeted on Sunday night about how the cure should not be worse than the disease, a disingenuous framing.
WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF. AT THE END OF THE 15 DAY PERIOD, WE WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2020
Tom Fitton, president of the right-wing group Judicial Watch, replied to Trump’s tweet by saying states currently telling people to stay in their homes should let people out and also slammed the idea of releasing some prisoners. This has been floated because of the very serious risk of infections in prisons.
“Exactly. Governors and local officials should let people out of their homes before they let criminals out of the jails,” Fitton said.
Exactly. Governors and local officials should let people out of their homes before they let criminals out of the jails.
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) March 23, 2020
Replying to Trump and Fitton, one Robert Barnes, whose bio identifies him as a trial lawyer, suggested that Trump should reverse the decision to keep people in their homes and save the economy.
“If Trump saves us from the Depression everyone else was leading us into by reversing the country’s course on this, I am going to build a statute to him in my front yard (paid for by my successful bets he has won for me),” Barnes tweeted.
Robert, we will end up stronger than ever before. Thank you! https://t.co/4UfMaCmkg5
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2020
Trump retweeted the message approvingly, adding: “Robert, we will end up stronger than ever before. Thank you!”
The President’s retweeting spree should be of concern to anyone interested in containing Covid-19. Trump and many in his conservative orbit have already been suggesting that reaction to the global pandemic is overblown and that the economic damage will not be worth it. If Trump decides to reverse public health measures already put in place, the consequences could be dire.
