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Is Mike Pence worse than Trump? Here's why Internet is worried about POTUS' critical health and transfer of powers

Apart from putting Trump at high risk, the Covid-19 news also casts a cloud of doubt over the entire Republican re-election campaign

Donald Trump is under the weather after he announced early Friday morning, October 2, 2020, that he and his wife, Melania Trump, had been tested positive for coronavirus. "Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!" he wrote. 

With the president recovering from the virus, health experts can't fathom how the 74-year-old would fight serious complications from the disease if he develops them, especially because such complications have killed more than 200,000 Americans and more than 1 million people worldwide. With Trump at high risk, the news also casts a cloud of doubt over the entire Republican re-election campaign.

At this moment — with barely a month left for the presidential elections — Trump's infection with Covid-19 could destabilize the already heated socio-political climate and stock market futures. Moreover, it's clear if he were to be deprived of strength due to illness, the Constitution’s 25th Amendment spells out the procedures under which a president can declare themselves “unable to discharge the powers and duties” of the presidency.

Disclosing a shocking piece of information, chief White House correspondent for CNN Jim Acosta tweeted, "WH officials have serious concerns about Trump's condition tonight and his symptoms are worse than those of the First Lady at this point, according to our sources," and added, "Trump adviser said there is reason for concern about Trump's health tonight. 'This is serious,' the source said. The source went on to describe Trump as very tired, very fatigued and having some trouble breathing. WH officials continue to say Trump will be fine."

Sending people on Twitter into a frenzy, the tweets created much ruckus and now people can't stop wondering if Mike Pence will soon have to step into Trump's shoes. The Trump administration, however, dismissed those claims. "He was not planning to transfer his authority to Vice President Mike Pence,” White House spokesman, Judd Deere confirmed to New York Times. “The president is in charge,” he said.

However, the fear is strong on social media and many people can't stop speculating what will happen if Pence is handed over the powers. "I really hope Trump pulls through. One, because I don’t want anyone to die but mainly because Mike Pence is worse," one tweet read and another said, "Wait a minute, is Mike Pence worse than Trump?" 

"Politics aside, I’ll never get the insane levels of irrational hatred for Trump. He’s too ridiculous and comical to be truly unlikeable. Pence, McConnell, Mnuchin, all these guys are far more off-putting. Plenty of Dems — Hilldawg, Pelosi, Schumer — seem easily more horrid," one Twitter user went on to post. Another said, "Been thinking about Trump having COVID and I hope he recovers. Pence would be 10X worse." 

However, not all were against the idea of Pence taking the reigns. "Pence should become acting president right now. Trump was already incoherent & enfeebled from dementia before becoming infected w/ Covid. Now coughing, feverish and receiving an experimental drug he’s obviously worse than they are admitting. Dementia & delirium are a bad combo," one tweet read. One said, "I think Trump (if he survives) may use his health as a reason to resign. He would avoid the humiliation of losing to Biden and Pence could pardon him. What do you think?" Another posted, "Oh god if Trump kicks it they'll just run Pence and he'll absolutely win in a landslide and be far worse."