A day after leaving a nearby hospital for the White House, where he will receive intensive treatments unavailable to most people after getting the coronavirus, the Republican again understated the effects of the virus on social media.
"Many people every year, sometimes over 100,000, and despite the Vaccine, die from the Flu. Are we going to close down our Country? No, we have learned to live with it, just like we are learning to live with Covid, in most populations far less lethal!!!" the 74-year-old wrote on Twitter and Facebook.
Twitter Inc responded by putting a warning label on the post, saying it included potentially misleading information. Facebook Inc removed the Trump post for breaking its rules on Covid-19 misinformation, according to CNN.
"This is a lie. The flu doesn’t kill 100,000 a year," Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, tweeted.
The United States has the world's highest death toll from the pandemic, with more than 209,000 deaths. By comparison, influenza typically kills between some 22,000 and 64,000 people a year in the United States, US government statistics show.
Trump's chances of winning November's election have taken a hit over the millions of jobs lost during coronavirus lockdowns, and he has frequently sought to encourage a return to work despite the pandemic.
Trump's doctor said on Tuesday he was doing "extremely well" and reporting no Covid-19 symptoms. Sean Conley, a Navy commander, said a team of physicians met with the president on Tuesday morning.
"He had a restful first night at home, and today he reports no symptoms. Vital signs and physical exam remain stable, with an ambulatory oxygen saturation level of 95-97%," Conley said in a statement released by the White House. "Overall he continues to do extremely well."
Trump had no public events listed for Tuesday and it was unclear when he would resume a full schedule of presidential duties and campaigning ahead of Election Day, November 3.
He tweeted that he was looking forward to a scheduled second debate with Democratic election opponent Joe Biden on October 15 and wrote that he was feeling great. He had yet to be seen in public or to release a new video since Monday night.
Trump spent three days at a military hospital and was due to receive further doses of the antiviral drug remdesivir and the steroid dexamethasone, which is normally used in the most severe cases.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Trailing Biden in opinion polls, Trump's campaign sought to project an image of a strong president who is overcoming his illness and planning to get back on the campaign circuit.
"We're looking forward to him getting back on the trail when the doctors say it's physically feasible for him to do so. He's ready now," Trump campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley told Fox News.
A Twitter post by Biden showed images of himself donning a mask and Trump removing his. "Masks Matter. They save lives," the caption read.
Trump returned to the White House on Monday in a made-for-television spectacle, descending from his Marine One helicopter wearing a white surgical mask, only to remove it as he posed, saluting and waving, on the mansion's South Portico.
The severity of his illness has been the subject of intense speculation, with some experts noting that, as an overweight, elderly man, he was in a high risk category.
#GaspingForAir began trending on Twitter after video showed Trump appearing to take several deep breaths while standing on the White House balcony.
"Don't let it dominate you. Don't be afraid of it," Trump said in a video after his return on Monday night. "I'm better, and maybe I'm immune - I don't know," he added. "Get out there. Be careful."
Trump mocked Biden at last Tuesday's presidential debate for wearing a mask when campaigning.
"I was aghast when he said Covid should not be feared," said William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
Many Trump aides and confidants have been diagnosed with the disease since his announcement last week that he had tested positive, intensifying scrutiny and criticism of the administration's handling of the pandemic.
Media outlets reported two more White House staffers had tested positive for the disease. One was a Trump valet, an active member of the U.S. military who traveled with the president last week, a Bloomberg News reporter said on Twitter, citing unnamed sources. Bloomberg, CNN and NBC also reported that a military aide to Trump had Covid-19.
White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany, herself diagnosed with the virus, said the rise in Covid-19 cases at the White House and among some Republican senators was not disrupting the functioning of the US government.
"We are regularly meeting," although some staff must attend remotely," she told Fox Business Network.
The top US military leaders are isolating after the Coast Guard's No. 2 tested positive for the coronavirus, Pentagon officials said.
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Comments
This man is incapable of learning.
This is the most reckless, irresponsible leader of any country by far, let alone a 'first' world country.
In the race to see who is the worst leader in a pandemic between boris johnson and donald trump, trump just hit the afterburners and left boris looking not nearly as evil and murderous. It had been a close race until this week, with boris showing new levels of incompetence and disorganization, but trump is now out on his own, this is a whole new level of pure evil, deliberately infecting as many people as he can and encouraging his supporters to do the same.
Deplorables is not nearly an evil enough name for those who support this maniac.
Hmmm...how many noble prize nominations do you have? How many people voted for you? You talk a good game but lack any gravitas! Maybe focus your efforts on making things better here in Dunedin. The mayor and consellors would be a good place to start. Start small.
Who in their right mind uses the Presidential political platform to deliberately down play the pandemic? This is not the action of a responsible human being.
He leads a cult. Pity the cultists. They dont k[no]w better!
Too funny! Nothing like Kiwis demonstrating their ignorance of American governance. America is a constitutional republic based upon federalism. Federalism is the division of power between the national and individual state governments. One area where the national and state govts share power is protecting public health. Federalism ensures that each state is guaranteed the autonomy, at the state level, to develop and implement their individual healthcare programmes. Federalism ensures there is no nationalisation of healthcare policies and procedures across the US. Consequently, federalism makes each state's governor responsible for the development and implementation of state policies and programmes. The federal government under the leadership of the president provides support to the states as required. Trump has provided support to the governor each and every time asked. Cumo needed more ventilators for New York. Trump used the War Production Act to force industry to build more ventilators and had them sent to NY. NY and CA asked for federal assistance and Trump sent two hospital ships along with military medical personnel. The three of you have no idea what you are complaining about!
Exactly what does a federalism lecture have to do with people expressing disgust at a contagious President returning to public office and telling the people there is nothing to fear from the virus. His behaviour is reckless and irresponsible, his words are thoughtless, misleading and shows how little he cares. This is no laughing matter.
Sorry Al, I didn't realize you were THE EXPERT on COVID. Is Al's plan to cower in the basement until the virus is gone? That's not living, that's existing. If you want to exist; fill your boots mate! The 2nd floor of the white house is where the president and his family live. Where would Al like him to go? He holds public office 24/7, there was no reason for him to step down and pass the baton to Pence. The lecture on federalism is totally relevant. Ignorant people like yourself blame Trump instead of the governors for the poor response and spread of the virus. Trump wasn't telling people there was nothing to fear, he was telling people they have to get on with their lives. If you think that is reckless and irresponsible, I wonder what color the sky is in your world? I didn't realize that you were able to see into Trump's heart? You state: "his words are thoughtless, misleading, and show how little he cares"; that's your opinion, and it's not based upon reality. Your right, this isn't a laughing matter! Biased and reckless comments like yours need to be addressed with facts.
Mate, he was on the balcony of his home without a mask. Nobody around, not a big deal! As far as Trump being back to work at the Whitehouse, it has the most comprehensive air-filtration system in the world. The building is overpressurized and the air scrubbed. You are not being very realistic in the things you say! You are entitled to your own opinions but not your own facts mate!
Given that I my comments were in response to the comments Trump made as quoted in this article, it is hardly necessary for me to hunt out facts when they are there for all to see. Read what I wrote and then read the article above. The rest of your reply is unworthy of a reply.
Trump said "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." COVID has a 98.54% survival rate Vs influenza which has a survival rate of 98.4%...I could most certainly see how someone like you could construe Trump's comments as "irresponsible and dangerous". The rest of us see the comments as ALL TRUE! Yes, you are correct, the rest of your post isn't worthy of a reply!