World reacts to Trump’s virus ‘nightmare’
President Donald Trump and his wife Melania have tested positive for coronavirus.
Taking to Twitter this afternoon, just before 1am local time for the president, Mr Trump confirmed he and his wife were both self-isolating at the White House.
"We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!" he wrote.
Mr Trump is believed to have caught the virus from Hope Hicks, one of the president's closest advisers who travelled on Air Force One with him from the presidential debate on Tuesday and to his Minnesota rally yesterday.
Everyone seems to have an opinion about the president's diagnosis, who has long been accused of not taking coronavirus seriously.
A handful of world leaders have already reached out to the president.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the Trumps a "quick recovery".
Wishing my friend @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a quick recovery and good health. https://t.co/f3AOOHLpaQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2020
During the presidential debate on Tuesday, Mr Trump was asked whether he believed in the efficacy of masks, a question he used to mock his opposition Joe Biden.
"I wear masks when needed. I don't wear masks like him," Mr Trump said, motioning towards Mr Biden.
"Every time you see him, he's got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I've ever seen."
That snide comment was quickly jumped on by Twitter after the president tested positive.
I was there in the debate hall. The entire Trump entourage came in w masks, took them off as soon as they sat down, refused to put them on when asked by Cleveland Clinic personnel. Flouting defiantly the law & rules. And Trump shouting only 8-10 feet from Biden for 90 mins. Oy
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) October 2, 2020
Others simply wished the president a speedy recovery with one labelling Mr Trump's diagnosis a "nightmare" and "total failure" by the White House team.
This is a nightmare.
— Ashish K. Jha (@ashishkjha) October 2, 2020
COVID19 is a serious infection, especially for someone who is older like Mr. Trump.
I can't believe he was infected. This is a total failure by WH team to protect the President
Wishing both the President and The First Lady and speedy recovery. https://t.co/YVA2WpeNCu
Mr Trump, who is 74 years old, is at high risk of developing severe coronavirus symptoms due to his age.
Melania, who is 24 years younger than the president and not as high risk, said she and her husband were "feeling good".
As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together.
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 2, 2020
And of course there were plenty of reactions relating to bleach after the president seemed to suggest injecting the toxic chemical might have an effect on coronavirus
Let the bleach injections begin! https://t.co/Xnq8glag0o
— Jeff Sparrow (@Jeff_Sparrow) October 2, 2020
Even Telstra decided to weigh in, making a joke about 5G after conspiracy theorists claimed coronavirus was spread by telecommunication towers transmitting 5G.
Don't even try and blame 5G for this. https://t.co/rmamU3mPIY
— Telstra (@Telstra) October 2, 2020
Originally published as World reacts to Trump's virus 'nightmare'
But I thought it was a hoax? Inject yourself with bleach? https://t.co/UTOmEJG11T
— Kurt Bardella (@kurtbardella) October 2, 2020
