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Trump slammed for saying he 'up-played' Covid-19 threat despite wanting to play it down: 'Pathological liar'

Trump was asked why he would 'downplay a pandemic that is known to disproportionately harm low-income families and minority communities'

US President Donald Trump has claimed that he had "up-played" the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic even though he had been heard admitting to journalist Bob Woodward in March that he "wanted to always play it down". During an ABC News town hall event that took place in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, September 15, Trump was asked why had he minimized the coronavirus and not been more proactive in preventing its spread especially as the pathogen proved to be lethal.

Trump was asked why he would "downplay a pandemic that is known to disproportionately harm low-income families and minority communities". In response to this, the POTUS said, "I didn't downplay it. I actually, in many ways, I up-played it, in terms of action. My action was very strong."

Trump even tried to provide evidence to back up his claim and said that he had "up-played" the disease "in terms of action". He then proceeded to cite some travel bans that he had imposed against China and Europe in February and March. Trump said, "We did a very, very good job when we put that ban on." "Whether you call it 'talent' or 'luck,' it was very important, so we saved a lot of lives when we did that," Trump said.

The POTUS was slammed across social media by outraged users who took to commenting on the issue. One such user wrote, "He denied it's existence until March, calling it a "Democratic Hoax", then said it would just disappear, then claimed the hot weather would defeat it, then...oh, just every single other lie you can imagine!"

Another commented, "If Trump “up-played” COVID-19 in his actions we wouldn’t have almost 200,00 (sic) deaths. So let’s not let him squirm out of this; hang this albatross around his neck, he’s earned this. The Woodard interview is one of the only times we’ve actually heard Trump tell the truth."

"He is purging the homeless, low income and minority communities. The more they die the less he has to deal with. Voter suppression in Red states, to make sure they don't get in his way to succeed in killing those that can't afford to stay safe. #TrumpHidTheTruth #CovidTesting," said another user.

Yet another user who echoed the same sentiments wrote, "Yes he’s 1 huge contradiction after another every time he opens his mouth-He speaks out of both sides of his mouth- He’s a pathological liar cheater fraud & narcissist- His personality is consistent w/narcissism-It’s all about him at all costs-He could care less about anyone else."

Trump's claims and believes that he had taken the threat of the virus seriously is a contradiction to his own comments which he had made back in March to journalist Bob Woodward. He had said at the time, that he had downplayed the significance of the virus to avoid creating a panic. In an audio recording that had been released last week, Trump can be heard saying, "I wanted to, I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic." During a February conversation, Trump had reportedly told Woodward that coronavirus is "more deadly than even your strenuous flus".