On Monday, October 5, President Trump was discharged from Walter Reed Medical Center and moved to the medical suite at the White House.
As he was transferred, the President sent out a tweet telling Americans:
"Don't be afraid of [the virus]. Don't let it dominate your life."
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of C… https://t.co/fFk0atUvqI— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1601923041.0
Many online quickly pointed out President Trump had free access to the best healthcare in the country and received an uncommon cocktail of experimental antiviral medications and steroids.
Very few Americans have access to this level of healthcare and not all of those who do are lucky enough to recover. Even Trump's "recovery" isn't completely certain, considering the short time since his diagnosis and the virus' tendency to return after initial improvements.
Almost everyone agreed the President's tweet was needlessly dangerous and myopic. Over 200,000 Americans have died because of the pandemic, yet President Trump is urging his supporters to disregard the virus's dangers.
Captain America himself, actor Chris Evans, addressed the President on Twitter.
Don’t be afraid of Covid?! You’ve been under round-the-clock care by the best doctors using the best drugs. Do you… https://t.co/bWTU0aaIpI— Chris Evans (@Chris Evans)1601926748.0
Twitter turned out to support Evans's sentiment, begging Americans to be vigilant in public spaces.
@ChrisEvans I’m crying while typing. My dad passed away from COVID. His tweet is one of the most offensive things I… https://t.co/lEL69AowqA— Beachlife (@Beachlife)1601926999.0
@ChrisEvans Be afraid to catch Covid. It's horrible. Our whole body suffers. Especially the psychological. take… https://t.co/x6uOOpwUBt— Lânia Lima (@Lânia Lima)1601927018.0
@ChrisEvans I work for the nhs in Scotland and this drives me insane this is a serious illness and telling people i… https://t.co/7CUIAigJoB— Lorraine McFadyen (@Lorraine McFadyen)1601926993.0
People all over the world wished for an American President who took the pandemic seriously.
@ChrisEvans Please vote this guy out Sincerely, a worried European— niki (@niki)1601927049.0
@ChrisEvans DRAG HIM KING— charlie (@charlie)1601926766.0
@ChrisEvans The freaking President of my country (Brazil) pulled the same stunt. Said he got it, downplayed the who… https://t.co/kISq6uaZ85— ᴮᴱPritties 🇧🇷🏠🐳💜 (@ᴮᴱPritties 🇧🇷🏠🐳💜)1601953087.0
Many online were thankful Chris Evans was using his platform to spread more accurate information.
@ChrisEvans Thank you Chris for speaking out. The arrogance and ignorance in that statement is beyond reckless. His… https://t.co/35YMfXxkV1— Chris Evans Fans Vote 🗳USA (@Chris Evans Fans Vote 🗳USA)1601930299.0
@ChrisEvans You're so awesome, Chris. Always have been. The world needs your voice so badly right now.👊— Alice Evans (@Alice Evans)1601928317.0
@ChrisEvans This is one of the most reckless, disgusting things he’s ever done. I’m in shock— Walt, but SPOOOOOKY 🎃 (@Walt, but SPOOOOOKY 🎃)1601926811.0
Though his days in the Marvel Universe may be over, Chris Evans will always be Captain America.
@ChrisEvans THANK YOU SO MUCH for saying this! That was my instant response this morning and I was so angry I was s… https://t.co/3dTH6gLL2c— Bethany Hörnfeldt (@Bethany Hörnfeldt)1601978207.0
@ChrisEvans And now his followers will use this as their cry to open up further and many more will get sick and die - it’s frightening— JᴜsᴛASᴀʟʟʏLᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢFᴏʀHᴇʀJᴀᴄᴋ (@JᴜsᴛASᴀʟʟʏLᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢFᴏʀHᴇʀJᴀᴄᴋ)1601926848.0
@ChrisEvans Thank you! He is completely reckless and a danger to society. As he stood on that balcony, endangering… https://t.co/mqpxCOwhrc— 💖SelaA aka The BLESSEDmess Chaos Coordinator🥰 (@💖SelaA aka The BLESSEDmess Chaos Coordinator🥰)1601996570.0
There was only one thing Evans got wrong...
@ChrisEvans My friend, "a shocking degree"??? https://t.co/mK02W9HR1n— Eissell 🎃 (@Eissell 🎃)1601926973.0
With infections rising in most U.S. states, it's more important than ever the President takes the virus seriously. Based on these tweets, however, it doesn't seem like it is going to happen.