Days after returning to the White House from Walter Reed Medical Center after receiving treatment for the virus that's killed over 200 thousand Americans, President Donald Trump posted a bizarre video to his Twitter feed appealing to his "FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD": senior citizens.
The President falsely claimed that the treatment he received at Walter Reed—supplemental oxygen, dexamethasone, and a cocktail of other powerful drugs—was a cure for the virus.
Watch below.
TO MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD! pic.twitter.com/38DbQtUxEu
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2020
Trump said:
"We're taking care of our seniors. You're not vulnerable but they like to say you're vulnerable. You're the least vulnerable but for this one thing, you are vulnerable. So am I."
He went on to say that his administration would "take care of our seniors—all free!"
While some were confused by the rambling content of the message, others were curious about the video's background, which appeared to be digitally projected.
Fake WH background. Check.
Ronco presentation. Check.
Desperate accordian hands. Check.https://t.co/UXnqhKbi9T
— Cindy Kitchel (@CindyKitchel) October 8, 2020
green screen, yes or no? https://t.co/RynhsHSDNH
— Sara Pearl (@skenigsberg) October 8, 2020
Did he just superimpose himself onto the lawn? https://t.co/qqvn1W2d5O
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) October 8, 2020
Nice green screen, ding dong https://t.co/ZoXKORr7tt
— 🎃 Imani Gandy Corn 🎃 (@AngryBlackLady) October 8, 2020
This... was definitely filmed in front of a green screen. https://t.co/24MTxJ4xCa
— Kyle Tait (@TaitVoice) October 8, 2020
After a closer look, it appeared that the background in the video was, indeed, looped.
If Trump is so healthy, why does it look like this video was filmed in front of a green screen? https://t.co/ZAmqd3YwMK
— John Aravosis 🇺🇸🇬🇷🏳️🌈 (@aravosis) October 8, 2020
2/ Trump faked this video released today. It's shot in front of a green screen, the background is fake & on 3-second loop. Is Trump so unwell that he can't even step outside to film a video?
Attached is zoomed in video of the bushes to the right. On loop. pic.twitter.com/cVIUTu3qSk
— John Aravosis 🇺🇸🇬🇷🏳️🌈 (@aravosis) October 8, 2020
If Trump is so healthy, why does it look like this video was filmed in front of a green screen? https://t.co/ZAmqd3YwMK
— John Aravosis 🇺🇸🇬🇷🏳️🌈 (@aravosis) October 8, 2020
Trump's appeal to senior citizens is likely a result of recent polls showing that voters 65 and older—usually a reliable base for the Republican party—are gravitating heavily toward Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
A recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll showed Biden besting Trump by a whopping 27 points among the demographic, while a CNN/SSRS poll showed the former Vice President leading Biden among seniors by 21 points.
People were skeptical that the desperate appeal from Trump would win back the support of a demographic he won by seven points in 2016.
Trump is hemorrhaging support from seniors and his solution is proof of life videos where he exudes the same energy as dudes selling silver on Fox News https://t.co/GQP56KyDQU
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 8, 2020
At his current numbers w/ 65+ voters, I'm not even certain reverse mortgage companies would hire him as a pitchman. https://t.co/2ZGALeBmJC
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) October 8, 2020
These mentally deranged videos are not going to help trump get the votes of senior citizens who he did not protect from a global pandemic. #BidenHarris2020 https://t.co/NPV8d3uNIh
— Richard W. (@IceManNYR) October 8, 2020
He saw the polls showing him the first republican to be losing the over 65 vote in a generation. https://t.co/3rr3wum4Mx
— Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy) October 8, 2020
In the past, Trump has dismissed the threat posed by the virus because it affects mostly elderly people.