President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the coronavirus affected “virtually nobody” at a campaign rally in Ohio, prompting the internet to point out that around 200,000 Americans have died because of the pandemic.
“Now we know it, it affects elderly people, elderly people with heart problems, and other problems. If they have other problems, that’s what it really affects, that’s it. You know, in some states, thousands of people—nobody young. Below the age of 18, like nobody,” the president told the crowd. “They have a strong immune system. Who knows? Take your hat off to the young, because they have a hell of an immune system. But it affects virtually nobody. It’s an amazing thing.”
The president added that “everybody” should “open your schools.”
Almost 200,000 people have died from coronavirus in the United States and nearly 7 million cases have been reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Trump told author and journalist Bob Woodward in March that the virus was affecting “not just older” people and that it was affecting “plenty of young people.” CDC data shows that 8.4% of cases in the U.S. were from people 17-years-old and younger.
From our friends at Nautilus
The president’s remarks that “virtually nobody” has been affected by the virus caught the attention of people online, many of whom pointed out that nearly 200,000 people have died—hardly “nobody.”
“Trump claims ‘virtually nobody’ young is affected by Covid-19. But according to CDC, 400,000 young people were infected with the coronavirus. He said ‘Covid-19 ONLY affects elderly people with heart problems & other problems. That’s it’. That’s it? 200,000 people died!!” @taslimanasreen wrote.
Others joined in as well.
Meanwhile, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) tweeted that Trump’s remarks should be turned into an ad and be run in retirement communities.
