CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta slammed President Donald Trump for urging Americans to “not be afraid of COVID-19.” The president’s message was sent out shortly before he was discharged from Walter Reed National Medical Center where he spent all weekend being treated for the coronavirus.
“This is so disrespectful I don’t even think I can speak about in some cogent way,” Gupta said on The Lead with Jake Tapper. “I know family members who have lost people and they watch our programming. It’s incredibly disrespectful and it’s obviously not true in a sense that we know that he (Trump) knows how serious this is.”
Trump returned to the White House on Monday evening “Don’t be afraid of COVID,” he tweeted. “Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge.”
“Don’t be afraid of it almost encourages this completely dangerous, non-scientific approach of herd immunity,” Gupta said. “What does that mean don’t be afraid of it?”
Gupta reminded people that COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that kills people. The doctor’s sharp criticism of Trump comes as some in the media said they were confused about his health, citing weekend press conferences that offered contradictory information as to whether Trump’s oxygen levels dropped.
“There’s no way to even begin to respond to a comment like that,” Gupta added. “It’s gross.”
