Advocates warn that the president’s equestrian attitude could make the epidemic worse.
On Twitter, supporters of the president praised his power and hailed his message, calling him “our favorite president” and “the best president ever!”
But for many families who have lost loved ones to the disease, as well as for first responders and other advocates, the response has been very different. Many of them denounced the president’s morning spirit and warned that it could worsen the situation.
New York City transit worker Brian Verter, who lost his father to the virus, told ABC News in a statement that Trump’s advice “hurts” people who are afraid of the coronavirus.
“It worries me for all the families who will still experience the loss of a loved one because our president refuses to take this epidemic seriously,” he said.
Walter is a member of the Survivor Network and advocacy group COVID Survivors for Change, which documents the toll that has left the epidemic on millions of Americans. On Sunday, the group installed 20,000 empty chairs in a lawn in front of the White House to symbolize the nation’s COVID-19 death.
Chris Kochher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change, said in a statement that he was struck by Trump’s tweet, given that he has the best health care and treatment in the world – a luxury that most coronavirus patients do not have.
Trump’s doctors told the press that he was given several drugs, including antibody cocktails, rimadesivir and steroids.
“For those who have lived for months with the symptoms of Covid-19 for months, the virus is terrible. Trump doesn’t care, and it’s still not passed on to families,” Koch said in a statement.
Susan R., president of the American Medical Association. Bailey urged Americans to heed the warnings of doctors and health experts.
“We know that vigilance is an excellent response to the COVID-19 epidemic because the virus does not feed on fear; it feeds cheer,” he said in a statement.
New York City nurse Lisa Billings, who lost her brother to the disease and is also a member of Change Survivors for Change, criticized Trump for taking the virus.
“I saw medical teams fight like hell to save the patients of Covid-19,” he said in a statement to ABC News. “Many times, this deadly and ferocious virus has won,” he told ABC News.
Billings called Trump’s message “don’t be afraid of the virus a slap in the face to all those who have lost a loved one to Covid-19, as well as all of us who have lined up to save others.”
“It’s a steep and dangerous comment that will do nothing to stop this horrific epidemic, and it could make it even worse,” he said.
Kristin Urquiza, an Arizona woman who attended the Democratic National Convention and blamed Trump’s rhetoric for her father’s coronavirus-related death, was one of the more well-known voices. Urquiza tweeted, quoting the president’s message, “At this point, the only thing we should be afraid of is you.”
In a statement to ABC News later Monday evening, Urquiza said Trump is busy looking strong rather than focusing on helping the nation through the crisis.
“It’s clearer than ever that Trump cares about no one but himself.”
While not directly referring to the president’s tweet, former vice president JB Biden told a crowd in Miami that the president should listen to scientists and medical experts about the dangers of the epidemic.
He noted that since the president was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Friday, more than 100,000 Americans have been infected with the virus.
“I hope the recovery of the president is quick and successful,” Biden said, “but our country’s civil crisis is far from over.”
The report was contributed by ABC News’ Victoria Mall-Ramirez and Molly Nagle.
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