Donald & Melania Trump’s Positive COVID-19 Diagnoses Met With Sympathy – And Mockery – On Social Media

President Donald Trump‘s announcement that he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the coronavirus garnered worldwide reaction with some responding with well wishes and sympathy, others with jokes, and many wondering how the 2020 presidential election may change.

“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19,” the president tweeted early Friday morning. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”

Many world leaders sent encouraging words to the president, hoping that he will get better.

“My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus,” tweeted the United Kingdom’s Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister had contracted the virus in March, and spent some time in the hospital before making his recovery.

“Like millions of Israelis, Sara and I are thinking of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and wish our friends a full and speedy recovery,” responded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin told Trump in a telegram, “I am certain that your inherent vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus.”

The Chinese government has not officially responded to the president’s positive COVID-19 test, but the editor-in-chief of the state-run Global Times, Hu Xijin said, “President Trump and the first lady have paid the price for his gamble to play down the COVID-19. The news shows the severity of the US’ pandemic situation. It will impose a negative impact on the image of Trump and the US, and may also negatively affect his re-election.”

The Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus responded: “My best wishes to President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS for a full and speedy recovery.” In July, Trump began the process to withdraw the United States from the WHO.

Those within the U.S. government also reacted to the president’s diagnosis.

“Karen and I send our love and prayers to our dear friends President @realDonaldTrump
and @FLOTUS Melania Trump,” tweeted Vice President Mike Pence. We join millions across America praying for their full and swift recovery. God bless you President Trump & our wonderful First Lady Melania.”

“This is tragic. It’s very sad. … Going into crowds unmasked and all the rest was sort of a brazen invitation for something like this to happen,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC in an interview.

“Just finished a great phone call with @POTUS. He’s in good spirits and we talked business — especially how impressed Senators are with the qualifications of Judge Barrett,” tweeted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. “Full steam ahead with the fair, thorough, timely process that the nominee, the Court, & the country deserve.”

On a radio interview with Hugh Hewitt, he said he thought the next presidential debate should go on as scheduled, though it may have to be held remotely.

“It should go forward. Hopefully the president feels up to it, and you know they can work this out remotely,” McConnell said.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted out a statement on the news, writing: “What happened to President Trump is a reminder of why the whole country, including Senators and staff, must follow the science and follow the protocols laid out by the CDC and public health officials. When you ignore the science, you don’t wear a mask, and you don’t follow social distancing guidelines, it puts you and everyone around you at risk. Following science is a must.”

The world’s stock markets also reacted to the news, with the United States’ Dow Jones, S&P and NASDAQ stock futures dropping more than 2%. Energy and metal stock also fell, and Asian and Australian markets were hit particularly hard.