President Donald Trump's response to the virus that's killed hundreds of thousands of Americans and unemployed millions more has largely been characterized by his dismissal of it.
In the early stages of the outbreak in the United States, Trump assured that the virus would disappear "like a miracle." He dismissed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines stressing the importance of wearing masks. He attacked governors and other local leaders for taking preventative measures to slow the spread of the virus.
And in an Ohio rally Monday night, the President once again minimized the threat it poses.
Watch below.
"It affects virtually nobody," Trump says of the coronavirus, which has now killed 200,000 Americans and counting pic.twitter.com/qHrZvUWNhX
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 22, 2020
Trump said:
"It affects elderly people. Elderly people with heart problems and other problems. If they have other problems, that's what it really affects, that's it. Y'know, in some states, thousands of people, nobody young. Below the age of 18, like nobody ... But it affects virtually nobody. It's an amazing thing."
Trump's comments came just after the U.S. death toll from the virus passed 200 thousand—the highest number of deaths in the world.
The false statements also come weeks after tapes from a February interview between Trump and legendary journalist Bob Woodward, in which Trump acknowledged that he intentionally downplayed the virus in its early stages and continues to downplay it to his supporters.
He also noted that the virus doesn't spare the young, contradicting the claim he made at the rally:
"It's turning out it's not just old people. Just today and yesterday, some startling facts came out. It's not just old—older. Young people, too. Plenty of young people."
While young people are certainly less susceptible to the virus, they're far from immune, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the millions of U.S. cases and over 100 Americans between the ages of 0 and 17 have died of it.
Trump's continued willingness to dismiss the virus spurred rebuttals across the internet.
I guess 200,000 “nobodies" simply died for no reason? https://t.co/Ej7cjBNZfP
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) September 22, 2020
If this doesn't make you check your registration, mail or walk-in your vote RIGHT NOW, then track your vote to make sure it's counted, I don't know what else you need to hear. To the loved ones of the 200,000+ who suffered and died from this containable virus, this is evil. https://t.co/IgCbvkRecA
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) September 22, 2020
My Dad was not a nobody. https://t.co/9IeHxeV1bi
— Kristin Urquiza, MPA (she/her) (@kdurquiza) September 22, 2020
Tell that to the kids and loved ones of the 200k people who have died. https://t.co/iADValJNad
— Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) September 22, 2020
More cops have died from Covid this year than from being on patrol. https://t.co/EAdr9Qf4bV
— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) September 22, 2020
Let us NEVER become numb to the death of 200,000 Americans. Never. https://t.co/AuzOpl9WPw
— Dr. Al Gross (@DrAlGrossAK) September 22, 2020
“Nobody" which includes 3 people I know who died - including one my age. I'm 45. https://t.co/7G7hMaiC1B
— Steve Schale 🇺🇸🥁 (@steveschale) September 22, 2020
The President seemed incapable of considering the toll this virus has taken on the United States, and the threat it still poses.
He'll say the same thing when it's killed 2 million. https://t.co/uwVSyFGfD4
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) September 22, 2020
Comments like this will ensure people stop taking precautions and we lose 200,000 more. https://t.co/cRSiIsK6Sp
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) September 22, 2020
“It affects virtually no one, it's an amazing thing."
203k Americans lost.
67 times more killed than on 9.11
The worst death toll from covid of any country, in a country with ample knowledge and resources.
His failure is beyond comprehension. https://t.co/Qe9pTNiMK4
— Liam O'Brien (@VoiceOfOBrien) September 22, 2020
@PaulRieckhoff/X