President Donald Trump officially accepted the Republican party's nomination in a 70 minute speech on the White House's South Lawn in the final hours of the Republican National Convention.
Over a thousand of the President's supporters attended the speech, flouting guidelines from health experts, with few wearing masks and virtually no social distancing to be seen.
The large audience immediately sparked concerns about the potential for spreading the virus that's already killed over 180 thousand Americans and infected millions more.
CNN White House Correspondent Jim Acosta relayed the answer he got from a Trump administration official after noting these concerns.
It's quite alarming.
On the lack of social distancing or face masks at Trump's #RNC2020 acceptance speech in the middle of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, a senior White House official tells @Acosta: “Everybody is going to catch this thing eventually." 🤯 pic.twitter.com/0T5e6r3BSx
— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) August 28, 2020
According to Acosta, the official said:
"Everybody is going to catch this thing eventually."
Republicans' dismissal of the threat posed by the virus—often exacerbated by the President—has already come under fire for spreading the virus. Trump held his first campaign rally in months back in June, where thousands of his supporters gathered in an indoor arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma with almost no one wearing masks.
Former Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain tested positive days after attending the event. He died from it just over a month later. Tulsa health officials said the rally "likely contributed" to the subsequent spike in virus cases in the city.
As recently as Friday, four Republican National Convention officials tested positive for the virus after in-person RNC events in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Trump official's dismissal seemed, to many, part and parcel of the Trump administration's response to the virus.
They do not care if you or your family lives or dies. https://t.co/gfh6mlradG
— Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) August 28, 2020
Why no social distancing or masks on the South Lawn tonight? Because, according to a senior White House official, “everybody is going to catch this thing eventually."
Madness. pic.twitter.com/yukBO7brk1
— Tim Hogan (@timjhogan) August 28, 2020
Unbelievable. They are knowingly gambling with all our lives. It's almost as if they are actively trying to kill the most vulnerable Americans. #TrumpkillsAmericans https://t.co/sCXKDUZKQJ
— Lavender O'Neal (@LavenderONeal1) August 28, 2020
Wow. Somehow I'm not surprised. #TrumpVirus https://t.co/4lTYoXmi6L
— It's News to Us - Radio/Podcast (@itsnewstous) August 28, 2020
Seriously? That explanation is the dark, fatalism that has become the Evangelical Republican Party. https://t.co/zfMy0S5QM9
— sister golden hair surprise (@notbetty4ever) August 28, 2020
These people are insanely evil. https://t.co/tFbZshGz6W
— Jolie Lindley (@INChick) August 28, 2020
The callousness heightened the urgency of voting in the November election.
The official White House position is now “everybody is going to catch this thing eventually."
That's what on the ballot. Vote accordingly this November. https://t.co/ekin57M0cu
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) August 28, 2020
Oh my....
A senior WH official on the RNC COVID spreading event..
Eventually, everyone will catch this thing anyway.
Please vote these fools out of the damn White House.
pic.twitter.com/zIqldOjiE6
— 🐾Angie K 💙🔬🧫 (@angie_keathly) August 28, 2020
VOTE THEM OUT
They don't get to decide for the rest of us... https://t.co/NCF6Pp8m7Y
— Terry Dresbach (@draiochta14) August 28, 2020
If everyone in America caught the virus, an estimated 3+ million would die.
@JennJVN/X
@HunterBiden/X
@HunterBiden/X
