Trump’s announcement, on Twitter, on Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirusAnd the deep uncertainty that accompanied it permeated the global news cycle, disrupting countless plans and prompting comments everywhere from presidential offices to the thousands seeking to engage on social media.
The positive test reading for the leader of the world’s largest economy adds further uncertainty to investor concerns, including how the infection could affect the Nov.3 election between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden. Futures for US stocks and Asian stocks fell on the news. Future contracts for both the S&P 500 and the Dow Industrials lost 1.9%. Oil prices also fell. Stock prices in Japan and Australia fell.
“To say that this could be a big problem is an understatement,” Rabobank said in a comment. “Anyway, now everything takes a back seat to the latest incredible twist in this US election campaign.”
World leaders and officials were quick to weigh in, and there was sympathy and something that approached frustration.
“I wish my friend (in) POTUS (in) realDonaldTrump and (in) FLOTUS a speedy recovery and good health,” tweeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
I wish my friend @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a speedy recovery and good health. https://t.co/f3AOOHLpaQ
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1601617589000
Ties between the United States and India have thrived under Trump, and India is seen as a partner in balancing China’s growing weight in Asia.
“Our best wishes are for the president and the first lady, but it shows that no one is immune to Covid-19 and contracts it. Therefore, it shows that, regardless of precautions, we are all susceptible to this,” said the minister of Australian agriculture. David Littleproud, deputy leader of the conservative Nationals party, told Australian Broadcasting Corp. TV: “A difficult time, and it just goes to show that a global pandemic can affect anyone, even the president of the United States.”
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, speaking at a weekly press conference, did not mention Trump’s reluctance to wear masks when asked about his infection, but said the news “reminded me of how many masks are used in Japan. “.
Major media outlets around the world also highlighted the announcement, with bulletins on television screens in Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei and Beijing.
China’s official Xinhua news agency broke the news and an anchor from the state broadcaster CCTV announced it; There was no immediate comment from the government on Friday, the second day of an eight-day national holiday.
The positive test result for Trump and his wife was the most searched topic in China, after the holiday news, on the widely used social media app Weibo, a few hours after the announcement, with the most mocking or critical comments.
One user darkly joked that Trump finally tweeted something positive.
The Chinese government has been angered by Trump’s attempts to blame China, where the disease emerged, for the pandemic and called for global cooperation to combat it, a message that has resonated with the public.
Hu Xijin, the outspoken editor of the state newspaper Global Times, tweeted in English that “President Trump and the first lady have paid the price of their bet to downplay Covid-19.”
Iranian state television announced that Trump had the virus, a host who broke the news with an unflattering image of the US president surrounded by what appeared to be giant coronaviruses. Ties between the United States and Iran have suffered since Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the Tehran nuclear deal with world powers and re-imposed crushing sanctions.
Social media platforms in Asia ignited with quick reaction.
Would Trump blame the Chinese? Would you poke fun at your critics and enemies by quickly going through quarantine without serious symptoms, tweeting away from the White House? Would he become seriously ill, or worse, and, if he did, what would that mean for the US election, one of the most controversial in recent history?
While the uncertainty seemed palpable on a scroll across the social media of various nations, many of the comments seemed to revel in the announcement.
“Here’s your chance to test your idea of injecting disinfectant into yourself and fight (the allegations that) it was fake news!” Hiroyuki Nishimura, a Japanese internet entrepreneur, tweeted, referring to an idea Trump raised earlier this year. year for treatment.
Keio University economics professor Masaru Kaneko tweeted that populist leaders, such as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, “became infected because they tended not to take the coronavirus seriously. The other two leaders addressed the issue. seriously (the virus) after getting infected. ” themselves. Will the United States follow suit? ”
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