During a tour of the Center for Disease Control on March 6, 2020, Trump said he preferred to prevent a cruise ship with confirmed COVID-19 cases from docking for fear that the official number of US cases would increase.
They would like to have the people come off. I’d rather have the people stay [on the ship]. But I’d go with them. I told them to make the final decision. I would rather – because I like the numbers being where they are. I don’t need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn’t our fault.
In a speech made on May 14, 2020, Trump referred to testing for coronavirus as “overrated.”
So we have the best testing in the world. It could be the testing’s, frankly, overrated? Maybe it is overrated. But whatever they start yelling, we want more, we want more. You know, they always say we want more, we want more because they don’t want to give you credit.
On that day, the US had suffered a total of 87,500 deaths from COVID-19, more than all American deaths in wars from Vietnam to the modern day combined.
Our testing is so far advanced, it’s so much bigger and better than any other country that we’re going to have more cases, we’re always going to have more cases. And as I said this morning that’s probably the downside of having good testing, is you find a lot of cases that other countries who don’t even test, don’t have. If you don’t test, you don’t have any cases. If we stop testing right now we would have very few cases if any.
On the day of his comments, the United States had suffered 120,942 deaths from COVID-19, more than all American deaths during the First World War.
Amid mass protests the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police, Trump threatened to deploy the the military to combat “thugs” and remarked, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
….These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!
The tweet was flagged by Twitter as violating its rules about glorifying violence.
This Tweet violates our policies regarding the glorification of violence based on the historical context of the last line, its connection to violence, and the risk it could inspire similar actions today. https://t.co/sl4wupRfNH
Additionally, the phrase was coined by a notoriously racist Miami police chief in 1967, who also told the press “we don’t mind being accused of police brutality.” Trump’s handling of protests were denounced by former Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
In a May 2020 meeting with two state governors, Trump threatened to withhold federal election funding for states expanding mail-in voting. He repeated unfounded claims about mail-in voting, and said people should vote in person because to do so is “an honor.”
I think just common sense would tell you that it’s massive manipulation can take place. Massive.
They — and you do; you have cases of fraudulent ballots, where they actually print them and they give them to people sign. Maybe the same person signs them with different writing, different pens. I don’t know. It’s — a lot of things can happen.
No, if you can, you should go and vote. Voting is an honor. It shouldn’t be something where they send you a pile of stuff and you send it back.
Trump also stepped up his attacks on Twitter.
State of Nevada “thinks” that they can send out illegal vote by mail ballots, creating a great Voter Fraud scenario for the State and the U.S. They can’t! If they do, “I think” I can hold up funds to the State. Sorry, but you must not cheat in elections. @RussVought45@USTreasury
Trump made the remark during a press conference on May 15, 2020.
And I just want to make something clear. It’s very important: Vaccine or no vaccine, we’re back. And we’re starting the process. And in many cases, they don’t have vaccines, and a virus or a flu comes, and you fight through it. We haven’t seen anything like this in 100-and-some-odd years – 1917.
The day of his remark, the United States had nearly 1.5 million total confirmed cases and suffered 89,104 deaths.
On February 28, 2020, Trump claimed at a South Carolina rally that COVID-19 was being politicized by Democrats, it being their “new hoax.” On that day, the US had 63 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Now the Democrats are politicizing the coranavirus. You know that, right? Coronavirus. They’re politicizing it. We did one of the great jobs, you see. How’s President Trump doing, they go, ‘oh not good, not good.’ They have no clue. They don’t have any clue… This is their new hoax.
Trump addressed his handling of the virus during the rally, and had made mention of it during his State of the Union address earlier in the month. His claim of a hoax was referring to criticisms about his administration’s handling of the virus rather than the virus itself.
About two months later, Trump later claimed that he said no such thing, and clarified that it was “Do Nothing Democrats” and the “Mainstream Media” that was the hoax.
I never said the pandemic was a Hoax! Who would say such a thing? I said that the Do Nothing Democrats, together with their Mainstream Media partners, are the Hoax. They have been called out & embarrassed on this, even admitting they were wrong, but continue to spread the lie!
As with the first and second timelines, COVID-19 case numbers for this post are taken from https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/, and there may be a lag between Trump’s statements and the day’s reported numbers.
Apr. 20 – 808,540 US cases, 43,632 US deaths. 2.5 million cases and 173,000 deaths worldwide.
Now we’re going toward 50 – I’m hearing, or 60,000 people. One is too many. I always say it. One is too many, but we’re going toward 50 or 60,000 people. That’s at the lower – as you know the lower (end of the projections) was supposed to be 100,000 people.
Trump compares a testing swab to a Q-Tip.
This is what it’s about, right? Does it remind you of something? Reminds you of this, right? One’s a swab, one’s a Q-Tip. It’s actually different. It’s very sophisticated, actually.
I’ve had great “ratings” my whole life, there’s nothing unusual about that for me. The White House News Conference ratings are “through the roof”(Monday Night Football, Bachelor Finale , @nytimes) but I don’t care about that. I care about going around the Fake News to the PEOPLE!
Apr. 22 – 866,683 cases, 48,790 deaths. Trump shuts down immigration via Executive Order.
I will be signing my Executive Order prohibiting immigration into our Country today. In the meantime, even without this order, our Southern Border, aided substantially by the 170 miles of new Border Wall & 27,000 Mexican soldiers, is very tight – including for human trafficking!
So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether its ultraviolet or just very powerful light… And I then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute, and is there a way you can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning
Apr. 24 – 934,555 cases, 53,183 deaths.
Trump says he made comments about UV light and injecting disinfectant “sarcastically.”
Our Country wants to move safely forward. There is a tremendous pent up demand. We will open big!
Getting VERY good reviews of the job the Federal Government is doing on CoronaVirus. Ventilators, building hospitals, beds and yes, Testing, have been handled incredibly well. Testing is getting exponentially better every day. Love seeing our Country safely opening up!
Was just informed that the Fake News from the Thursday White House Press Conference had me speaking & asking questions of Dr. Deborah Birx. Wrong, I was speaking to our Laboratory expert, not Deborah, about sunlight etc. & the CoronaVirus. The Lamestream Media is corrupt & sick!
I never said the pandemic was a Hoax! Who would say such a thing? I said that the Do Nothing Democrats, together with their Mainstream Media partners, are the Hoax. They have been called out & embarrassed on this, even admitting they were wrong, but continue to spread the lie!
Trump brushes off reports of people taking his former suggestions about using UV light and injecting disinfectant seriously.
I can’t imagine why [people are ingesting disinfectants].
Why should the people and taxpayers of America be bailing out poorly run states (like Illinois, as example) and cities, in all cases Democrat run and managed, when most of the other states are not looking for bailout help? I am open to discussing anything, but just asking?
There has never been, in the history of our Country, a more vicious or hostile Lamestream Media than there is right now, even in the midst of a National Emergency, the Invisible Enemy!
Apr. 28 – 1,044,752 cases, 60,406 deaths. COVID-19 deaths now surpass all US deaths from the Vietnam War.
We are doing far more, and better, Testing than any other country in the world, and yet the media does nothing but complain. No matter how good a job is done, the same as with the Ventilators, they will never say we are doing a great job, they will only viciously gripe!
I must admit that Lyin’ Brian Williams is, while dumber than hell, quite a bit smarter than Fake News @CNN “anchorman” Don Lemon, the “dumbest man on television”. Then you have Psycho Joe “What Ever Happened To Your Girlfriend?” Scarborough, another of the low I.Q. individuals!
We can’t let the Fake News, and their partner, the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, get away with stealing the Election. They tried that in 2016. How did that work out?
May 1 – 1,141,084 cases, 67,077 deaths. Trump replaces watchdog who identified critical medical shortages and threatens China with new tariffs as retaliation for COVID-19.
Hopefully we’re going to come in under that 100,000 lives lost.
The Democrats are just, as always, looking for trouble. They do nothing constructive, even in times of crisis. They don’t want to blame their cash cow, China, for the plague. China is blaming Europe. Dr. Fauci will be testifying before the Senate very soon! #DONOTHINGDEMOCRATShttps://t.co/fgHuYeiOQY
She was thrown off The View like a dog, Zero T.V. Personas. Now Wallace is a 3rd rate lapdog for Fake News MSDNC (Concast). Doesn’t have what it takes! https://t.co/F8azYEJHm5
….And then came a Plague, a great and powerful Plague, and the World was never to be the same again! But America rose from this death and destruction, always remembering its many lost souls, and the lost souls all over the World, and became greater than ever before!
.@PeteHegseth “Oh bye the way, I appreciate the message from former President Bush, but where was he during Impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside.” @foxandfriends He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!
“Concast” should open up a long overdue Florida Cold Case against Psycho Joe Scarborough. I know him and Crazy Mika well, used them beautifully in the last Election, dumped them nicely, and will state on the record that he is “nuts”. Besides, bad ratings! #OPENJOECOLDCASE
May 5 – 1,247,549 cases, 73,733 deaths. Trump discusses shutting down the coronavirus response team.
Trump complains about aggressive reporters.
Paula Reid, she’s sitting there and I say, ‘How angry. I mean, What’s the purpose?’ They’re not even tough questions, but you see the attitude of these people, it’s like incredible.
Trump tours a mask facility without wearing a mask, while the song Live and Let Die plays over the loudspeakers.
I think it’s a mask facility, right? If it’s a mask facility, I will. Yeah. I don’t know if it’s a mask facility.
The Do Nothing Democrats and their leader, the Fake News Lamestream Media, are doing everything possible to hurt and disparage our Country. No matter what we do or say, no matter how big a win, they report that it was a loss, or not good enough. The Enemy of the People!
For the constant criticism from the Do Nothing Democrats and their Fake News partners, here is the newest chart on our great testing “miracle" compared to other countries. Dems and LameStream Media should be proud of the USA, instead of always ripping us down! pic.twitter.com/8AwnPCNchF
May 6 – 1,273,101 cases, 76,312 deaths. Signs Proclamation in Recognition of National Nurses Day.
Trump speaks on Dr. Bright, a vaccine expert who was fired for pushing back against the unproven drugs Trump promoted.
I never met Dr. Bright. I don’t know who he is. I didn’t hear good things about him. I did not hear good things about him at all. To me, he seems like a disgruntled employee that’s trying to help the Democrats.
Trump reversed prior remarks on dissolving the coronavirus response team.
I thought we could wind it down sooner. But I had no idea how popular the task force is until, actually, yesterday when I started talking about winding it down.
This is why the whole concept of tests aren’t necessarily great. The tests are perfect, but something can happen between a test where it’s good and then something happens and all of the sudden.
Trump: Katie, she tested very good for a long period of time and then all of the sudden today she tested positive… This is why the whole concept of tests aren’t necessarily great pic.twitter.com/iM9Xo3jddU
Yesterday was a BIG day for Justice in the USA. Congratulations to General Flynn, and many others. I do believe there is MUCH more to come! Dirty Cops and Crooked Politicians do not go well together!
So in California, the Democrats, who fought like crazy to get all mail in only ballots, and succeeded, have just opened a voting booth in the most Democrat area in the State. They are trying to steal another election. It’s all rigged out there. These votes must not count. SCAM!
Why is it that all of the political pundits & consultants that I beat so easily & badly, people that charged their clients far more than their services were worth, have become so totally “unhinged” when it come to your favorite President, me. These people are stone cold crazy!
May 11 – 1,397,037 cases, 83,948 deaths. Trump storms out of press conference.
May 15 – 1,498,606 cases, 91,154 deaths.
Joe has absolutely no idea what’s happening. AOC is a disaster. She wants all fossil fuel out. She wants everything out. She wants wind, which is expensive — kills all the birds. You know, I’m also an environmentalist. But wind is a disaster.
May 16 – 1,522,117 cases, 92,396 deaths.
We used to make our own product, would you believe it? We used to make our product, right. We don’t need 37 pencils, we can buy two pencils, and make them be better.
The scene was from the 1996 film Independence Day. The tweet was derided for showing such an absence of leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic that the President had to co-opt the message of a fictitious President.
The actor from the scene, Bill Pullman, said of the tweet that “My voice belongs to no one but me.”
On May 10, 2020, Trump tweeted 125 times between 6:02:49 AM and 9:54:57 PM. That is a tweet on average of every 7.6 minutes.
Most were retweets related to the Justice Department’s recent dropping of charges against Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Trump also alleged that Obama had targeted Flynn and his administration, though no details were specified.
Trump also boasted of his ratings in handling COVID-19, and attacked Obama’s handling of H1N1. On May 10, the US had suffered over 80,000 COVID-19 deaths. 93 Americans died as a result of H1N1.
We are getting great marks for the handling of the CoronaVirus pandemic, especially the very early BAN of people from China, the infectious source, entering the USA. Compare that to the Obama/Sleepy Joe disaster known as H1N1 Swine Flu. Poor marks, bad polls – didn’t have a clue!
