Melania Trump’s Halloween celebration at the White House sparks a backlash

Melania Trump’s announcement that a Halloween celebration will take place at the White House despite the coronavirus pandemic has drawn widespread and immediate criticism.

The First Lady of the United States revealed the plans on Twitter and announced that the Trump administration’s fourth annual Halloween party would take place on Sunday.

The doors of the White House will be open to front-line workers, military families and school children, accompanied by their parents, from 3.30 to 7.30 p.m.

In a statement, Trump confirmed that “additional precautions” had been taken to “help ensure the health and safety of all guests who wish to participate in this year’s spooky celebration.”

Those precautions include limiting event capacity and extending event hours, requiring guests and staff to wear a face mask and practice social distancing, taking a non-contact approach, and having hand sanitizer widely available.

But it was not enough to satisfy critics who criticized the decision to hold such an event during the Covid-19 crisis, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 220,000 Americans.

Many expressed concern that the celebration could end up becoming a “wide spread event” if a contagious person attended.

And others said it was unfair to hold an event while ordinary Americans were unable to go about their daily lives and visit loved ones during the pandemic.

“While the rest of us sacrificed family reunions, hugged our grandchildren, and learned in school, the WH continues to host super-spread events that sacrifice the health of Americans,” wrote one Twitter user, while another said: ” Super spreader event, take TWO now… Ask ANY public health professional and they’ll tell you it’s a HORRIBLE idea. “

“And to think that my community does not suggest any trick or treat for the safety of the common good of our citizens. You are really incredible,” added another.

Meanwhile, others cited the fact that the parents of 545 children separated from their families at the US-Mexico border had yet to be found, three years after the Trump administration introduced a zero-tolerance family separation policy for undocumented immigrants entering the country. US.

In a court file, the American Civil Liberties Union said that about two-thirds of the parents in question had been sent back to their home countries in Central America, but that their children were left behind.

Their locations were not recorded and hundreds have yet to be located.

Trump’s critics questioned the ethics of holding a family celebration at the White House when those 545 children had lost their own families.

“Will you welcome the 545 children whose parents somehow ‘misplaced’, or are they being treated so well in their cages that they don’t need any more treats?” asked one Twitter user, while another wrote: “There are 545 children who would like to see their parents again. Do you mind? I doubt it.”

The divisive issue came to a head during the latest presidential debate, when thousands of social media users believed they heard Trump say it was “good” that those 545 children had lost their parents.

Instead, the broadcasts reveal that the president actually said “go ahead” to debate moderator Kristen Welker, who was ready to move on to the next topic.