'Epidemiologists Just Want To Vomit': Twitter Critics Sick About Trump Removing His Mask
Twitter critics were appalled Monday when the first thing President Donald Trump did when he returned to the White House from Walter Reed hospital was to take off his face mask and jam it, frowning, into his pocket.
Trump, who is still considered contagious, had gloated the previous day in a video tweet that he “gets it” now that he has COVID-19.
No, he doesn’t, a flood of critics shot back.
Many remarked that the president’s breathing appeared labored as he stood at the top of the White House steps before entering and that he was trying not to show it.
Others expressed fears about the risk of contagion Trump now poses to the household staff, his security detail, aides, officials, the press and members of the public he may decide to meet.
“Epidemiologists just want to vomit,” tweeted Dr. Eric Fiegl-Ding, a senior fellow of the Federation of American Scientists. “What White House staffer would still wanna go to work tomorrow?”
TRUMP JUST TOOK OFF HIS MASK ENTERING THE WHITE HOUSE!!!
What White House staffer would still wanna goto work tomorrow??? #COVID19 #TrumpCovid19
Epidemiologists just wanna vomit. pic.twitter.com/KMGgtrNOxA— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) October 5, 2020
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden earlier urged Trump to “listen to the scientists,” adding: “Support masks.”
Now that President Trump is busy tweeting campaign messages, I would ask him to do this: Listen to the scientists. Support masks. Support mask mandates nationwide.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 5, 2020
CNN’s White House correspondent Jim Acosta called Trump “coronavirus in chief.”
Given a chance to make amends, a chance to get it right & encourage people to take the virus seriously, to wear masks & socially distance, Trump...takes off his mask. https://t.co/dK56D9PsWZ
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) October 6, 2020
Only days into his diagnosis, the first thing President Trump does when he gets back to the White House is take his mask off. pic.twitter.com/kyqvHcSbIl
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 5, 2020
Note: President Trump, who has COVID-19, did not put his mask back on when he stepped inside the White House
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) October 5, 2020
Trump gets back to the White House, and takes off his mask for the public to see. He has employees standing next to him who he is exposing. He does not care.
— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) October 5, 2020
Trump is basically filming a campaign commercial outside of the WH without a mask in the presence of photographers. Let me repeat: the president has coronavirus and is walking around without a mask.
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) October 5, 2020
Sometimes you hate to be right
Trump, gasping and on steroids, returns to the White House
And takes off his mask
Despite the fact that he’s probably contagious with #COVID19
Which has killed 210,000 Americans and made his staff sick
He just doesn’t care#WhiteHouseVirus pic.twitter.com/3x6pSVPxTg— Adam Cohen Lawyers for Good Government #DemCast (@axidentaliberal) October 6, 2020
.@JoyAnnReid on Trump taking off his mask at the White House.
"There are moments in this group when you realize you are witnessing one of the great horrors of history."https://t.co/7mcT0HPt1K— The ReidOut (@thereidout) October 6, 2020
Trump looks like he is gasping for air pic.twitter.com/4k2v4Jxlir
— Brennan Murphy (@brenonade) October 5, 2020
Looks like he's having a hard time controlling his breathing and getting a good breath, too, during that weird, long, balcony stand, continually adjusting his coat, etc.
All so very weird.— Road (@theroaddude) October 5, 2020
This is why Gasping is trending pic.twitter.com/vYBbh0u4jr
— Ben Meiselas (@meiselasb) October 6, 2020
A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus
Get the latest coronavirus updates here.
What will life be like once a coronavirus vaccine arrives?
Everything you need to know about face masks right now.
What should you still be disinfecting to prevent COVID-19?
Is it possible you had coronavirus earlier this year?
Constantly arguing with your partner about coronavirus risks? You are not alone.
Everyone deserves accurate information about COVID-19. Support journalism without a paywall — and keep it free for everyone — by becoming a HuffPost member today.
Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.
Also on HuffPost
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.