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With President Donald Trump announcing that he and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19, there has been an increase in the use of the word “schadenfreude.”
Merriam-Webster reported that the word was its top search on Friday, following Trump’s announcement. The dictionary’s website said searches for the term jumped 30,500 percent.
The term is derived from the German words for “harm” (“schaden”) and “joy” (“freude”). Merriam-Webster defines it as “enjoyment derived from the problems of others.”
The term began to appear in news reports, discussing reactions to Trump’s diagnosis. USA Today It had the headline: “President Donald Trump’s Coronavirus Infection Attracts International Sympathy and Some Frustration.” the Chicago Tribune he reported on world leaders offering their support to the president and “some thinly veiled schadenfreude” from others.
MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow also used it when comparing Trump’s positive test to a frequent smoker suffering from lung cancer. “Your instinct might be to blame them. Go ahead and enjoy that Schadenfreude,” he said, before asking for empathy.
Rachel Maddow, defending her sympathy for Trump, compares him to contracting COVID to her friend who has lung cancer because he did not quit despite knowing the risks: “Your instinct might be to blame them. Go ahead and enjoy Schadenfreude.” pic.twitter.com/T1pO03QT73
– Ibrahim (@Ibrahimpols) October 3, 2020
During a monologue on Friday at The late show, presenter Stephen Colbert spoke about the Merriam-Webster report, before saying he did not participate in schadenfreude. “I, for one, am not pleased that Donald Trump is sick, whether I like it or not, and for the record, no. He is the president. His job is to rule the country. It is a difficult job for anyone, and now he has to do it while he’s sick, “said the host.
In addition to the increase in searches and uses by the mainstream media (and Colbert), the term started trending on Twitter, with people joking about having schadenfreude, as well as people criticizing those who reveled in it. Trump diagnosis.
University of Twente assistant professor of applied philosophy Nolen Gertz wrote a lengthy joke about Trump’s response to having COVID, beginning with a comment on the meaning of schadenfreude. One user joked and asked if he was hungover.
The 7 stages of response to Trump having coronavirus:
1) Feeling schadenfreude
2) Feeling bad about feeling cold
3) Feeling silly for feeling bad
4) Suspect this is a hoax
5) Be concerned this will help Trump win
6) feel angry
7) feeling exhausted– Nolen Gertz (@ethicistforhire) October 2, 2020
Can too much schadenfreude give you a hangover asking for a friend?
– Scary Parcak ð ???? »Ð ?????? (@indyfromspace) October 3, 2020
Other people criticized those who were pleased to hear the news about Trump. Law expert Laurence Tribe wished the president and the first lady all the best. “This is no time for cruelty, schadenfreude or any other form of pettiness,” he wrote. Political commentator Dinesh D’Souza said that people’s schadenfreude has exposed people as “soft, soulless creatures.”
I join the chorus of those who want a speedy and full recovery for President Trump, the first lady, Hope Hicks, and all who have been exposed to them in recent days. This is no time for cruelty, schadenfreude or any other form of meanness.
– Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) October 2, 2020
Just think. When this is over, Trump will be in good health and return to his great and momentous life, but his gloating critics will remain the heartless, heartless creatures that Schadenfreude has exposed to them. #TrumpCovid
– Dinesh D’Souza (@DineshDSouza) October 2, 2020
Other people reacted with some indifference. Mountain Goats composer John Darnielle tweeted that he really couldn’t feel schadenfreude, thinking that very little will actually be learned from Trump’s COVID diagnosis.
It’s hard to really get a proper schadenfreude when none of the obvious lessons will reach the people who need them.
– Mountain goats (@mountain_goats) October 2, 2020
Newsweek reached out to Merriam-Webster via the contact form on their site to request comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Drew Angerer / Getty
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