In celebration of President Donald Trump, numerous White House staffers and Senators' infection with the viral pathogen behind the global pandemic, Georgia Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler decided to post a GIF of Trump created from one of his WWE appearances in a staged fight orchestrated by Vince McMahon.
The irony of posting something as fake and staged as Trump wrestling was apparently lost on Loeffler.
COVID stood NO chance against @realDonaldTrump! pic.twitter.com/GtNPOHkDqF
— Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) October 5, 2020
Backlash about her choice of posts was swift online.
CNN's Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper summed up the many things wrong with Loeffler's post.
He tweeted:
"A) he's still infected"
"B) his doctors said he's not out of the woods yet"
"C) defeating [the virus] has nothing to do with 'toughness' and to act as if it does is a huge insult to those suffering from it or who have died from it"
A) he's still infected
B) his doctors said he's not out of the woods yet
C) defeating COVID has nothing to do with “toughness" and to act as if it does is a huge insult to those suffering from it or who have died from it https://t.co/2mKDrS3HSQ
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 6, 2020
Loeffler's disregard for those who are also infected, died or lost a loved one was the most prominent objection to her post.
This is obviously an incredibly bizarre thing for a sitting US senator to tweet for a lot of reasons. But do they think that people who died from Covid... just weren't tough enough? Does Loeffler think that the 7,000 Georgians who have died from it were weak and gave up? https://t.co/MIOlicqd37
— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) October 5, 2020
Attila, this is pathetic, even for you
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) October 5, 2020
What a cruel thing to tweet for all the families who lost loved ones. Whew, Georgia. What an evil lady in your midst. https://t.co/xiwc54pale
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) October 5, 2020
As of Tuesday October 6, over 308,000 people have been infected and over 7,000 people have died in Loeffler's home state of Georgia.
So, the 7,000 constituents of yours who died of COVID-19 are weak? https://t.co/V4IO0xrudO
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) October 5, 2020
In other words, Kelly Loeffler believes that the 210,000 Americans who died were just weak.
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) October 5, 2020
7,192 COVID deaths in Georgia. https://t.co/CKqD7cWuc0
— Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) October 5, 2020
Some felt the clip Loeffler chose to share didn't show Trump in the best light.
This is embarrassing -- mostly because we have a president so vulgar and thirsty for attention he acted like that in the undoctored clip.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) October 5, 2020
p.s. wrestling is fake, ma'am. Trump didn't beat that guy either.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) October 5, 2020
Many felt the post said a lot about Loeffler.
This is not merely moronic, which we expect of you. This is submoronic, a category reserved not merely for the worst and most thoughtless grifters in the United States Senate, but for random lost souls requiring legal interventions and institutionalization. https://t.co/FWzuPhvxYn
— David Simon (@AoDespair) October 5, 2020
Girl I'm so embarrassed for you
— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) October 5, 2020
Lmfao she actually had the nerve to put her campaign logo on this. The thirst.
— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) October 5, 2020
Is she in isolation? She was right next to him at the super spreader party. 🦠🦠 pic.twitter.com/CrYycBZZd7
— Jayme Ruimveld (@jaymeruimveld) October 5, 2020
You truly are the Louie Gohmert of the senate
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) October 5, 2020
Now, fair is fair... Louie actually got his job by winning an election.
— ThingyBlahBlah3 (@ThingyBlahBlah3) October 5, 2020
Loeffler was appointed to the Senate by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to fill a seat vacated by Johnny Isakson who resigned at the end of 2019 for health reasons.
A former executive in her husband's commodity and financial services company, Loeffler will appear for the first time on the ballot in November 2020 when she faces off against a slate of candidates from her own and the Democratic party in accordance with Georgia special election law which allows all qualified candidates to appear on a ballot without going through the primary process.