Over 150 thousand Americans are dead and millions more are unemployed in the wake of the pandemic that's completely transformed daily life in the United States.
Lawmakers continue scrambling to reach a consensus with their rival party in passing a new economic relief package after expanded unemployment benefits expired at the end of July.
But according to President Donald Trump's son, Eric Trump, America is "roaring back to life" because of a prosperous stock market.
Today the NASDAQ closed at an all time record high. America is roaring back to life.
NASDAQ +0.35% 10,941 🔥🔥
DOW +0.62% 26,829
S&P 500 +0.36% 3,306
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) August 4, 2020
Though a slim majority of Americans own stocks, most working class Americans don't have a significant financial stake in them. In other words, they won't be made rich or impoverished as a result of the stock market.
But the vast majority of Americans have been affected by the stratospheric rate of pandemic-induced unemployment, and many have lost health insurance provided by their jobs in a time when it's most necessary.
That information was largely why Eric Trump was criticized for his rejoicing tweet.
1000 people a day are dying.
— SarahI (@sarah_ironside) August 4, 2020
Meanwhile 1000+ Americans a day are dying. But hey, like 'heimer papi @realDonaldTrump said: It is what it is. https://t.co/GGEkUHGBfR
— GrumpyOleBear (@GrumpyOleBear1) August 5, 2020
30 million people are unemployed because of Covid and it's increasing by 100k every day. but sure...."roaring"... https://t.co/8q6qWLxnsD
— BLM lauren leigh martin BLM (she/her) (@LLeighMartin) August 5, 2020
As tens of thousands get sick and die of COVID. Yes, we really care about stock market as our friends and family get sick and die. Does heartless prick ring any bells for you. https://t.co/a5Ga3bkH7l
— Hedy Salazar (@queeniema52) August 5, 2020
1400 deaths a day. https://t.co/Ee29dms4ZQ
— Bill Heck (@jaxonboy) August 5, 2020
These numbers might mean something to you. They mean nothing to millions of Americans getting evicted, choosing food over medicine/rent. Dying from covid, unable to get medical help cause overworked medics cant help them. Need I go on?
Cash in and FLOCK OFF you moron. https://t.co/KYrog25kDZ
— Chewy (@BobCherwinski) August 5, 2020
Eric Trump's tweet came just after his father was roundly excoriated in an interview with Jonathan Swan of Axios, in which Trump appeared to dismiss the 155+ thousand Americans who died of the virus.
Trump said:
"They are dying. It's true. It is what it is, but that doesn't mean we aren't doing everything we can. It's under control as much as you can control it."
Many are weary of the White House's apparent callousness for working class Americans.
Working class Americans need help right now. Millions are jobless without health care. Many face hunger, eviction or economic ruin.
Meanwhile, 40 Trump-tied lobbyists helped their clients secure $10,000,000,000+ in COVID relief funds
This is what a rigged system looks like.
— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) July 9, 2020
Its hard to reconcile Senate GOP and trump admin saying working class Americans cant be trusted with $600 unemployment stipend coz they will cheat the system while giving trillions to wall street and demanding liability protection for their malfeasance.
— Ming Solenya Nethery (@MingGao26) August 3, 2020
The open grifting of the Trump administration with handouts to the wealthiest CEO's is sickening.
Please tell us how working-class & middle-class Americans don't deserve any help. @senatemajldr @JohnCornyn @tedcruz @realDonaldTrump
WE are the ones paying the taxes, not the 1%!
— yaya "Wear the Damn Mask" nana (@3_in_austin) July 31, 2020
Eric Trump isn't expected to apologize.
@LeeMerrittesq/X
@bob_moss/X
@jelanijones/Bluesky
@Aurkayne/X
@sadcommunistdog; @froglok/Bluesky