Months after the first diagnosed case in the United States, cases of the virus have surpassed three million and over 130 thousand Americans are dead. The U.S. has broken its daily new case record numerous times in the last two weeks, with spikes occurring in multiple states.
As Americans across the country rely on updates and safety guidelines from experts, President Donald Trump is using his Twitter platform to foment skepticism of these experts to his 83 million followers.
The President retweeted Republican game show host Chuck Woolery's assertion that most doctors are lying about the threat posed by the virus.
In the tweet, Woolery also accuses Trump's own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials of lying about the virus.
If Trump's apparent endorsement of the assertion weren't enough, the Trump administration's own actions reveal an effort to undermine the warnings of health experts, especially targeting National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci—one of the most trusted voices on the White House's virus response team.
The administration has taken numerous steps to discredit Fauci for his willingness to contradict claims from the President that "99 percent" of virus cases are totally harmless and that states should prioritize reopening their economies.
Trump recently said that Fauci had made "a lot of mistakes" and the White House gave CNN a list of Fauci's statements early in the outbreak that adapted as experts learned more about the virus.
According to the CNN report, Trump is irritated with the level at which Americans trust Fauci compared to him regarding information about the virus.
People are tired of the disinformation emerging from the White House.
I'm so tired
— Black Lives Matter! (@KyDoerr) July 13, 2020
Malevolence all the way down. If evil is anything but unfettered ego, I'd like to know what that is.
— Paul Cristofani (@dryblowhole) July 13, 2020
Ah, the wise sage game show host, supporting the esteemed elder, the reality show host. As it was in the prophecy. #TrumpPandemicFailure
— Kimberly Red Chile (@vikingkim5) July 13, 2020
Donald Trump is a malevolent sociopath.
— Kimberley Johnson (@AuthorKimberley) July 13, 2020
Oh wonderful a band of reality show hosts
— Kkramer (@cogasdvt) July 13, 2020
When Woolery tweeted this yesterday, I thought it was very dangerous. To say that doctors are lying about the pandemic. But for trump to retweet....it's just beyond dangerous. I don't know what I would call it—there aren't words.
— Stephanie (@Poppiesandthist) July 13, 2020
Wow. I saw this tweet yesterday and thought how deranged Chuck Woolery was. But he isn't the leader of the free world. How is Trump not violating his oath of office — or is there such a thing as political malpractice? — when he retweets such drivel?
— Sandy #wearadamnmask Spidel Neumann (@speumann) July 13, 2020
People reminded the two that the entire world would have to be in on the conspiracy, not the United States.
I guess the whole world is lying about the virus so they can mess with the election. And if that outrageous statement were true it would tell you how much the world can't stand Trump.
— Sherry Trout (@SherryTrout) July 13, 2020
I guess Brazil, France, China and and other countries vote in our election ... wow !
— Eva cares (@Evacares21) July 13, 2020
And the whole world is in on it?
— Sarah Cooke (@SAHoganCooke) July 13, 2020
Numerous other countries are well on their way to being done with the reopening process.
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images