He didn't downplay the Covid19 threat.

[sheshe2]

He called it a hoax. That is not downplaying it, it ridiculing the idea that it is even real. Then he started up with it is a 'DEMOCRATIC' hoax and they were just trying to make him look bad.

He knew people of all ages could contract the virus. He knew it was air born and highly contagious yet 'mask-shamed' people so they would not protect themselves and others.

With malice and forethought he held huge rallies THAT HE KNEW WOULD SPREAD THE VIRUS. No doubt about it, he wants people to die. There is no other way to see this. Trump wants as many Americans as possible to die. Not sure how his mind works, yet I think he is evil enough to want and control life and death.

hoax
/hōks/

noun
a humorous or malicious deception.
"they recognized the plan as a hoax"
Similar:
practical joke
joke
jest
prank
trick
jape
ruse
deception
fraud
imposture
cheat
swindle
bluff
humbug
confidence trick
con
spoof
scam
fast one
put-on
verb
deceive with a hoax.

Tears.

[spanone]

1. ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY!!!

[sheshe2]

2. Thank you, spanone!

[spanone]

3. He called it a hoax. That's denying it existed.

[ehrnst]

28. He called the Democrats' accusations of his mismanagement of it a hoax.

Which it wasn't.

[Demsrule86]

38. I posted the video.

[thesquanderer]

14. He never literally called covid a hoax. He certainly downplayed it, though.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-coronavirus-rally-remark/

[spanone]

16. mixture.

[sheshe2]

19. Thanks again.

[thesquanderer]

26. Exactly. As you posted, "Trump did not call the coronavirus itself a hoax."

That was from the very link I supplied.

I'm a believer that, when your hand is strong, don't give your opponent ammunition by overplaying it. Trump has said so much crap, there's no need to put more crap into his mouth that he didn't actually say, which just opens you to up accusations of bias and provides a hole that someone can exploit. I'd say stick with the stuff that's bulletproof. There's tons of it. No need to add weaker stuff that someone can dispute.
If snopes says it's true, it's a strong accusation. If they say it's a mix, it's probably a weak one that can be, at a minimum, reasonably disputed.

[sheshe2]

33. Welp.

Facts First: From January until last week, Trump consistently minimized the risk the coronavirus posed to the country. He claimed to have the virus under "control," that the number of US cases would go "down, not up," that the virus might "disappear" through a "miracle" or something of the sort, that the virus might well vanish by April with the warmer weather, that the media and Democrats were overhyping the situation, and that "this is their new hoax," leaving it unclear whether he was calling the virus itself a hoax. (He later said he was talking about Democrats' coronavirus-related criticism, not the virus.)

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/fact-check-trump-always-knew-pandemic-coronavirus/index.html

He later clarified his position. Funny how he always has to "clarify" what he clearly said. He clearly said it was a hoax. Now he is walking it back.

[thesquanderer]

57. Right from your quote...

and that "this is their new hoax," leaving it unclear whether he was calling the virus itself a hoax.

So even from your quote, he never clearly called the virus a hoax.

Everything he said where he put the words virus and hoax in close proximity could nonetheless easily refer to the hoax being something other than the virus per se. And in fact, that's what makes the most sense. Because:

Just talking logically... even his initial ridiculous statements, like "15 cases going down to zero" or "will magically disappear" STILL inherently acknowledged the reality that the virus itself was indeed real. If he ever meant to call the virus itself a hoax, then that negates EVERY statement which acknowledged that it existed, of which there were very many, including the two that started thos paragraph.

So we have a TON of statements where he acknowledged that the virus is real (even if he WAY downplays its severity), and we have ZERO statements that unambiguously said it was NOT real, that it was just a hoax and there was in reality no virus.

That's why saying he called the virus a hoax is a bad argument. The facts just don't support it.

[sheshe2]

64. Sorry.

Going to disagree here. If he tought it was real or gave one shite that it was real he would have done something about it. Instead he has super spreader rallies! To this day he declines venues that refuse him by mandating masks.

Just the other day he demanded that a reporter remove their mask because their voice was muffled. The reporter refused.

Welp:

So we have a TON of statements where he acknowledged that the virus is real (even if he WAY downplays its severity), and we have ZERO statements that unambiguously said it was NOT real, that it was just a hoax and there was in reality no virus.

Sorry, the virus is not real to him. The man is insane and continues to ALLOW the virus to spread. He has threatened blue states, withholding funding if they defy his orders to reopen. That is not a man that believes the virus is a threat to Americans, that is a man that only cares about himself, his reelection and staying out of jail for crimes against humanity among others.

[thesquanderer]

66. re: "Sorry, the virus is not real to him."

My take on it is that he thinks it's real, but he doesn't care. As long as he and maybe Ivanka don't catch it. Everyone else is dispensible. So I think we agree, he'll say and do whatever he thinks will help him and his re-election, rather than saying and doing whetever is best for the country.

So I don't know what's worse:

your take - he doesn't believe it's real

my take - he knows it's real, and he doesn't care.

[radius777]

67. He knows it's real but wants the illusion it is not,

in order to prop up the stock market which he's always viewed as key to his reelection. He doesn't care if people die.

Trump is a master gaslighter and he clearly wanted to convey to his base that the virus itself was a 'Democrat hoax', parsing his words so if called on it he could claim he was talking about 'Dems overplaying it' and not the virus. This is how he plays the media and those who are too gullible to get what his game is. Snopes may be well intending but a little slow on the uptake.

[spanone]

45. I quoting what you posted

mixture

i put no words in his mouth

[thesquanderer]

60. If we say he called the VIRUS a hoax, we are putting words in his mouth.

You can't find any exact quote of him saying that literally.

See also my post #57

[radius777]

17. Trump uses word salads to spread conspiracies and dogwhistles.

He clearly intended to convey that the virus itself was a hoax perpetuated by Democrats and others who were trying to 'damage' him.

When it became apparent the virus was spreading, he then shifted to the 'Chinese intentionally created the virus in a lab to destroy me' meme.

IOW, all of his framing is about how bad the virus is for him - he couldn't care less about the pandemic and the deaths and would just as well pretend it doesn't exist. (which really is the same sentiment that drives the anti-maskers).

[certainot]

31. he didn't have to: his surrogate limbaugh called it a hoax for two months from 600 stations

and all those and another 1000 had to follow his lead or his dittoheads will call and yell

trump and limbuagh 'dine', holiday, and golf together. GOP senators are probably more afraid of limbaugh and his pet dittoheads than trump

limbaugh would not have called it a hoax if the white house didn't want him to

[Demsrule86]

36. Yes he did at a Rally... on February 28th

Trump calls coronavirus Democrats' 'new hoax'
“Now the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus,” Trump said at a rally on Friday.

[thesquanderer]

71. There's an edit right before he says "this is their new hoax"...

...so your video clip does not make clear exactly what it is he's calling a hoax.

In fact, later in the same clip, he admits that people may die. So clearly, on that day, he does not believe the virus itself is a hoax, he knows it really exists.

I don't doubt that he's saying that some covid-related thing is a hoax. But not covid itself.

[DBoon]

70. If we are arguing about this here

Then Trump's statement was deliberately obscure. It could have meant either.

What is important is how the intended audience understood Trump's claims.

I would bet the average Trump supporter heard Trump use the word hoax and assumed the virus was no big deal. These folks then acted accordingly -failed to support pandemic control measures and aggressively opposed politicians trying to put the pandemic under control.

If we can't clearly determine the meaning, then would a Trump supporter care about the distinction?

[consider_this]

4. K&R!

[LakeArenal]

5. Exactly. Yet. Said only on DU?

[Thekaspervote]

6. You've made the best points I've seen..thank you

Okay, let’s say it’s true, which it isn’t, but let’s say he truly didn’t want people to panic. Someone who really cared about the people would have said, let’s not panic, but then quietly ramped up production of ventilators, PPE, test kits, passed bills to support the economy, increased number of available hospital beds, issued a mask mandate, increased staff at vital agencies like the CDC, FDA...

Where’s the proof that you cared and didn’t want people to panic..there is none

[raccoon]

7. Great post. Nt

[sheshe2]

12. Thanks.

Your points are true.

He didn't ramp up anything. He pitted one state after against each other when he told them to get their own fugging PPE. They were bidding against each other after trump told them that the Federal Gov was not there to serve their needs...I can't remember the exact quote, yet it was devastating.

Then Jared sent the feds to confiscate much needed PPe that states paid dearly for. One of those shipments was seized in MA. All the while my niece was wearing a raincoat in ICU.

[live love laugh]

68. 💯

[mobeau69]

8. K & R!

[backtoblue]

9. Exfuggingcactly!

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Summed Up My Feelings Perfectly!

Rec'd.
And, "he meant the dem concerns were the hoax" is BS.
First, he said "virus" & "hoax" in the same run on sentence. Did not mention dems. Said "their".
Second, the dems who were concerned WERE RIGHT!
So, lame excuse is incinerated on two fronts.

[malaise]

11. Correct

He also said it would miraculously go away

[littlemissmartypants]

13. Exactly, that's how sociopaths/psychopaths roll.

They live to create pain and chaos. They thrive on it. Their minds are so twisted that to love, means to hurt. It's sickening.

Stay strong, sheshe2.



❤ lmsp

[radius777]

15. +1. Some are missing the point on this.

Trump wanted (and still wants) to pretend the virus doesn't exist in order to prop up the stock market (to benefit the rich) and help his re-election. He forces regular people into the pandemic to die for the 1%. He's a ghoul who views the military people as well as working class folks as disposable pieces on his chess board.

[raccoon]

18. K&R. Nt

[FakeNoose]

20. Don't forget: he ridiculed Cuomo, Wolf, Pritzker and other Governors

... who were working non-stop overtime to save as many of their citizens as possible. All Chump did was block them at every turn, denying our states their PPEs, their ventilators and other medical supplies and equipment.

Oh my God, all the heroic hospital and clinic workers who risked everything - including their lives - to try and save these poor victims. All Chump did was fight them at every turn, and he's still doing it. He's guilty of genocide, there's no other term for it.

[sheshe2]

22. Mass graves in NY.

[llmart]

41. +1

Don't forget "that woman" in Michigan.

Our Governor has kept our state safe.

[H2O Man]

21. Recommended.

It's so disgusting.

[bucolic_frolic]

23. I don't think the man understands anything outside his own head

Hoax? It is, but only in his mind. Because he says so. Reality to Trump is what his mind says to him. Period.

[WyattKansas]

24. The dirty prick used it to benefit him politically and then weaponized it against his opponents...

All while he had that punk ass son in law of his managing the National Stockpile of supplies to fight the virus to sell on the internet. And that comes right after the dirty bastard threw away the protocols to protect America from a pandemic, because it was done by the Obama Administration. And he cannot stand that!

Meanwhile the dirty prick demands testing of anyone coming near him, while the American People go without. Only he and his staff get the finest most up to date anything to fend off the virus, but get your lazy asses back to work America. And what in the hell has this country nationalized to put an end to shortages of anything needed to fight this virus??? Nothing, because he has been claiming that it is over and gone forever... Besides that threatens his son in law's internet sales and his grifter buddies' snake oil cures he has the government buy. Nor would the dirty prick want to risk not killing off people who would not vote for him or are collecting a Social Security check without doing anything for him personally first.

[Kid Berwyn]

25. Con.

It’s all he does.

[kentuck]

27. Right on!

Good point!

[NRaleighLiberal]

29. and he called it the China virus. another disconnect!

[malaise]

30. One correction sheshe2

You mean 'Democrat' hoax - he never says Democratic

[sheshe2]

35. I did mean to write that, malaise.

Thanks.

[barbtries]

32. i knew he wanted to kill me

in March or April.

he's a sadistic fuck who's losing.

[Javaman]

34. Aka we have a president that willingly committed

Homicide

[sheshe2]

37. Looking more like genocide now.

[Javaman]

39. You're right

😢

[Demsrule86]

40. I posted the video on this thread Sheshe...

[sheshe2]

51. You have a link, Demsrule?

Thanks.

[llmart]

42. Spot on!

He is and always has been only concerned about himself and money.

[Nevilledog]

43. Even worse, he vehemently argued FOR behavior that would worsen the pandemic.

Open up the states. Protest the closings. You should go to church. You should go out to eat. No urging to wear masks and ridicule those who do. Holding rallies.... still holding rallies.

His excuse is bullshit.

[sheshe2]

44. And another lie, knowing full well kids can catch the virus...

Send them BACK TO SCHOOL!!! They are strong and few ever get it. I read the other day that 500K children have tested positive.

[Nevilledog]

49. Yup!

[crickets]

65. +1000000

That one burns most of all. Thousands of children are being exposed to potential lifetime health issues if the virus itself doesn't kill them. Also, it's another obvious means of spreading the virus. Every child at school is a risk factor coming home to siblings, parents, and grandparents. It's criminal.

[mcar]

54. Children are immune

which we now know he knew was a lie.

SO is back in school, teaching his students. Every day, he reports that fewer students are in his classes because they are quarantining. He's taking every precaution and the kids are wearing masks but has he brought it home? Is he infected? When will we both be infected?

This is his last year of teaching before retirement. I don't have words to describe what I feel.

[Nevilledog]

56. I can imagine, unfortunately.

Hubby is a school administrator and I've heard conversations he's had with teachers. It's scary and heartbreaking. Stay as safe as you can.

[mcar]

61. You too, Neville

[calclar]

46. HE WASN'T WORIED ABOUT PANIC IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC,

HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT PANIC IN THE STOCK MARKET AND THE GENERAL ECONOMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sheshe2]

48. Correct.

Welcome to DU.

[Blue Owl]

47. K&R

[KatyaR]

50. Nancy Pelosi needs to be screaming IMPEACHMENT.

Followed by a LONG jail sentence....

[mcar]

52. He knew it was transmitted through air

and yet not only refused to wear a mask, he discouraged and ridiculed mask wearing.

He tweeted and encouraged the absurd "reopen" rallies.

He didn't downplay COVID. He encouraged its spread.

He is still encouraging its spread. The blood is dripping off his hands. It's on the hands of the medical leaders in our government for not speaking out, on the hands of congressional Republicans who enabled this shite.

[sheshe2]

59. Exactly right.

Plus 1000.

[gademocrat7]

53. K&R

Destroying the health and lives of people across our country. Unrepentant criminal.

[Evolve Dammit]

55. Lying SOS his whole miserable life. "What have I raised?" Mom

[iluvtennis]

58. Fkn lowlife lying orange POS...so many people who were alive in January would likely still

be here today if this incompetent imbecile had only acted and put the right precautions in place for this country.

[Ilsa]

62. Can a president be impeached for being an asshole?

Sometimes I think we need to add a turpitude clause to the Constitution. Trump is depraved, indifferent about the suffering of Americans, and bears some guilt for the manslaughter of about 140,000 Americans.

[warmfeet]

63. He gives, not two shits

about any of us. We are not him.

Act accordingly.

[chriscan64]

69. Whether he did or did not say explicitly

that the virus itself is a hoax, the impression was made clearly enough that some of us remember it that way, including myself. Sometimes he lies straight out, other times like this he dances around the lie giving it shape without actually mouthing the words. We don't have him on video saying "Black people will move into the suburbs", but the use of "low income housing" in proximity to discussions about protests lets supporters and opponents know what he means.

Another example is the "20 names for the virus" bullshit he used at the Tulsa rally and other speeches around that time. He did not actually say the virus wasn't real, but the dismissive tone left no doubt about the implication. I have Trump supporting cousins and old friends that don't know each other, but were clear about the message: we don't need masks, open the economy now, go back to school, etc.

What do we know? We have him on tape in early February understanding the seriousness, in March saying he is playing down the seriousness in public, and numerous videos of him playing it down in direct and indirect ways.

[calimary]

72. As spanone put it: ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY!!!