#TrumpKillsUS trends after compelling video shows Trump admit he asked to slow down Covid-19 testing
"So I said to my people, 'Slow the testing down please'", PresidentTrump is seen saying in a 50-second video montage uploaded on Twitter, which has now gone viral under the trend #TrumpKillsUS. Titled 'Mass Murder on a National Scale' the video was posted by MeidasTouch.com, a grassroots foundation that puts out the most hard-hitting political content.
The article featured a clip from Trump's speech at the Tulsa rally where he revealed that he had asked his administration and medical front liners to reduce coronavirus testing. The account tweeted, "Hey @realDonaldTrump You may be wondering why #TrumpKillsUS is trending top 5 in the country. It’s because of this video. But more importantly, it’s because it’s true. Your game is up. We will defeat you in November."
"Here is the bad part: When you do testing to that extent, you are going to find more people, you will find more cases," Trump explained, in justification of his decision. Instead, he said to focus on practicing social distancing in an aggressive way. He also said that "Testing is frankly overrated."
The US, which has the highest number of positive cases and fatalities than any other affected country has only administered some 27 million coronavirus tests, according to various media reports. The president has previously made several false claims that surges in cases of Covid-19 in various US states can be explained by increased diagnostic tests. At the Tulsa rally on June 20, where the crowd turnout had been disappointing, Trump said that testing was a"double-edged sword."
While it seemed that he was in fact being serious about slowing down testing by his tone of voice, some people deemed that he was merely jesting. However, MeidasTouch.com, also included a clip of Trump being asked about the veracity of his statement, to which he is seen replying, "I don't kid. Let me just tell you. Let me make it clear."
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also repeatedly stressed the need for more testing in checking transmission of the contagion while other health experts have said that social distancing measures alone cannot curb the rapidly spreading pandemic. In contrast to Trump's statement, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr Anthony Fauci, who is also featured in the short clip posted on Twitter, expressed that "We absolutely need to significantly ramp up the number of tests."
The Twitterverse is raging at Trump's attitude towards testing and users have taken to the platform to share their opinions on the same. "I never thought the biggest threat to Americans would be the President of the United States, but here we are. It’s not negligence. It’s by design that #TrumpKillsUS. It’s about time we say so", said Brett Meiselas, the co-founder of Meidas Touch. "If a president “slows the testing down” because he doesn’t want bad press, thereby dramatically increasing the body count, what do you call that?", Nick Knudsen, executive director of Dem Cast, a non-profit media organization dedicated to democracy, concurred.
"As an attorney, I can say definitively that Trump’s conduct constitutes the definition of mass murder. He and his enablers should be convicted for their heinous crimes once we vote him out", opined Ben Meiselas, co-founder of Meidas Touch.
The Democratic Coalition tweeted: "Senate Republicans could end this tomorrow. Are they not convinced? Wake up @SenateGOP! #TrumpKillsUS, quite literally is killing Americans surging a pandemic just because he can." Another user commented "It’s true, #TrumpKillsUS. Killers have motives. What is his? Is he trying to extend this pandemic into the general election to secure power? Does he believe the deaths hurt his political opponents more? Why is he killing us?"
Other angry social media users joined the list as they said: "Trump never lost one seconds sleep or worry over one dead American.. he’s a MASS MURDERER #TrumpKillUs." Another said: "#TrumpKillUS This Man Has Delayed And Been A Direct Cause Of Hatred, Racism, And Tyrannical Dictatorship! He Should Be Removed From Office!!"