The number of deaths from the virus in the United States recently surpassed 200 thousand, but President Donald Trump is still dismissing the threat it poses.
At a rally earlier this week, Trump once again claimed that young people arre practically immune to the virus and called on local leaders to reopen their schools.
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
The President 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."
Not only was Trump incorrect, but it was largely viewed as a cruel dismissal of the hundreds of thousands of lives lost.
Among those lives was the father of Kristin Urquiza.
Urquiza spoke passionately at the Democratic National Convention earlier this summer about how her father was a supporter of Trump's and believed the President's frequent dismissals of the virus. Urquiza said that trusting Trump cost her father his life.
She had a heartbreaking response to the President's claim that the virus affects "virtually nobody."
My Dad was not a nobody. https://t.co/9IeHxeV1bi
— Kristin Urquiza, MPA (she/her) (@kdurquiza) September 22, 2020
Her statement made clear that the nation hasn't only lost 200 thousand of its people, but that their deaths have lasting affects on those their lives touched.
Sadly, she was far from the only one to experience a loss personally.
My dad is one of 200k+ people that died of COVID-19. He was super healthy, didn't have any pre-existing conditions, & didn't even have gray hair. He still DIED after a 3 week battle with COVID-19. Please register to vote and VOTE for people that believe in SCIENCE. https://t.co/FrdnZLvlwy
— Cynthia H Rivas (@CynthiaHRivas) September 22, 2020
My uncle, a three-decade longterm survivor of HIV/AIDS yet died of COVID in early April was not a nobody. https://t.co/sS9nGYQEih
— Jason Rosenberg (@mynameisjro) September 23, 2020
On Friday, my cousin died alone in the hospital with COVID-19. They would not let her daughter speak to her to try to save her oxygen. They would not let her speak to anyone. This is a horrifying way to die.
"Virtually nobody?" The ripple effects of her loss affect many people. https://t.co/dRgSM3G7X5
— Mary Robinette Kowal@🏡 (@MaryRobinette) September 23, 2020
My brother in law died. A former colleague of mine died, as did a High school classmate. Trump, you are such a sociopath that you say 200,000 people and their families are “nobody". What kind of @potus are you?
Hey, @JoeBiden? Please rip him up for this. https://t.co/OCy6JbuNbq
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) 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
my father is not nobody.
this is not the flu.
this man is a ghoul.
please, wear a mask.
and vote these sociopaths out. https://t.co/8VW8exuFiV
— Cory Barlog 🖖 (@corybarlog) September 22, 2020
And they pointed out that Trump's continued dismissal will only lead to more loss.
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's as if Trump is trying to kill people. https://t.co/3pFWkoe1EO
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) September 22, 2020
Hard to imagine a worse message from a president during a pandemic than this one
pic.twitter.com/wqm6f0xGPi
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) September 22, 2020
