Donald Trump drew criticism for his seemingly uncaring attitude towards the COVID-19 pandemic during a town hall on January 10.
Trump’s COVID Origin Theory
At the Wednesday-night event hosted by Fox News and moderated by Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier, Trump offered his theory on COVID’s origins, claiming it originated from a Wuhan lab, albeit accidentally.
Trump’s Sniffle During COVID Remarks
“I think it was done out of incompetence. That’s what I think. I believe that the scientists went out, said hello to his girlfriend and that was the end of that. She died, and people started dying all over the place, but who knows. I can tell you one thing — I got along with President Xi,” Trump said as he addressed the audience with a sniffle.
Fauci’s Prominence
In discussing COVID-19, Trump also described Fauci, a polarizing figure among Republicans, as “not a huge factor” in his pandemic approach and remarked on the scientist’s outsize prominence within the Biden White House.
Are Lockdowns the Answer to Pandemics?
Addressing another pandemic-related topic prompted by an audience query about possible COVID lockdowns, Trump stated, “I didn’t actually have a shutdown, despite the fact that some people wanted to and some people didn’t want to.”
He referenced the March 2020 “Slow the Spread” guidelines, which advised against travel, large gatherings, and visits to hospitals or nursing homes.
To Shut Down or Not?
Trump emphasized his approach of letting governors decide, noting that states like Tennessee, North Dakota, and South Carolina didn’t fully shut down, though North Dakota’s case was somewhat different. He also described Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s shutdown as “very violently.”
He went on, “The governors that did the best job were Republican governors, and they were the ones that didn’t shut down.”
Fauci’s “Biggest Fan”
When questioned about the perception that Fauci, the ex-director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, wielded excessive influence over his administration’s pandemic response, Trump asserted that DeSantis was “the biggest fan” of Fauci.
“He said … ‘I go by what Dr. Fauci said,'” Trump continued, noting that DeSantis later changed his position as it fell out of favor.
“Trump gets a laugh out of the Fox audience”
Trump’s comments on the theory of COVID-19’s spread, delivered in a humorous tone, have attracted criticism on social media platforms. Ron Filipkowski responded to Trump’s remark on X, posting, “Sniffling like crazy the entire time, Trump gets a laugh out of the Fox audience while talking about people dying of covid.”
“Narcissistic sociopath”
Trump’s humorous approach to discussing the COVID-19 pandemic has also sparked comments about his mental health. User @JoJoFromJerz commented on X, saying, “Siri: what’s a narcissistic sociopath?”
“Covid was HILARIOUS”
Many others were infuriated by the businessman’s casual attitude towards the pandemic. User @Out5p0ken wrote, “F…… hilarious. My father died. At the risk of losing account, I shall hold my tongue for now.”
Another person, @CreampieOrDie, commented, “lmao covid was HILARIOUS.”
Fauci Accused of Being “Tyrant”
Recently, DeSantis promised on X that if elected, he would seek justice for actions taken by “tyrants like Fauci” during the COVID pandemic. Reflecting on his presidency, Trump said, “Dr. Fauci was not a huge factor… He became a much bigger factor in Biden’s administration.”
Trump’s Claims on Healthcare Policy
On healthcare issues beyond the pandemic, Trump accused DeSantis and Nikki Haley, another contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, of wanting to cut Medicare. He claimed, “Nikki Haley wanted to raise the ageopens in a new tab or window [of Medicare eligibility] from 65 to 74, 75.”
Skepticism on Healthcare Plans
When moderator MacCallum clarified that Haley’s policy would affect “young people in their 20s,” Trump expressed his doubt, saying, “That’s what they say when it starts. … ‘It’s only for young people.’ And then it doesn’t work for young people, and they end up getting up to people that are of the age where it matters.”
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