The news of President Trump's infection prompted reactions of shock and sympathy, but also of undisguised glee, with Chinese state media suggesting he had “paid the price” for his Covid-19 policies
Credit: Evan Vucci/AP Photo
As the world reacted to Donald Trump’s diagnosis, the polarised response reflected the US President’s divisive policies.
The news prompted reactions of shock and sympathy, but also of undisguised glee, with Chinese state media suggesting he had “paid the price” for his Covid-19 policies.
The schadenfreude was led by Zara Rahim, a former spokeswoman for Hillary Clinton, who said she "hopes he dies".
In a now-deleted tweet, Ms Rahim, who also worked under the Obama administration, said: "It’s been against my moral identity to tweet this for the last four years, but I hope he dies."
She later posted a photograph of herself smiling with the caption "this f—ing rules".
Trump is in at-risk groups for coronavirus
Several left-leaning figures apparently revelled in the news of the positive tests. Dominic West, the Bafta-award winning star of The Wire and The Affair, admitted he "jumped for joy" when he heard of Mr Trump’s diagnosis, adding: "what goes around comes around."
“I did slightly leap in the air with joy," he told Good Morning Britain.
Asked to clarify his comments, Mr West added: "Well there’s an element of schadenfreude I suppose.”
"I’m not a fan of his, as you can probably tell, and I just hope Biden stays healthy and gets the presidency as quickly as possible."
An analysis of possible scenarios can be heard in our latest ‘Coronavirus: The Latest’ podcast, below.
Coronavirus podcast: Donald Trump tests positive — what next?
In China, the reaction was immediately characterised by Mr Trump’s own response to the pandemic.
China Daily, the country’s official English language paper, said: “The positive test is yet another reminder that the coronavirus continues to spread, even as Trump has tried desperately to suggest it no longer poses a danger.
“Since it emerged earlier this year, Trump, the White House and his campaign have played down the threat and refused to abide by basic public health guidelines – including those issued by his own administration – such as wearing masks in public and practicing social distancing.”
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of China’s Global Times, said Mr and Mrs Trump had “paid the price” for his “gamble” to play down the severity of coronavirus, warning that it would throw a cloak of negativity around his image and chances of re-election.
The White House is lit before dawn after President Donald Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump have both tested positive for coronavirus. The President is experiencing "mild symptoms", White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has confirmed
Credit: Joshua Roberts/REUTERS
Leaders who sent warmer wishes included Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, who sent Trump a telegram saying: “I hope that your inherent vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with the dangerous virus."
Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, when asked about the president’s diagnosis at a weekly news conference, carefully avoided referencing Mr Trump’s reluctance to wear a facemask, but said the news reminded me of how widely masks are worn in Japan."
The wax figure of US President Donald Trump has been 'quarantined' at Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam, by putting a mask and a placard in the window
Credit: KOEN VAN WEEL/Shutterstock
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Wishing my friend @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a quick recovery and good health.”
Mr Trump joins a growing list of world leaders who have caught coronavirus, their policies often influenced by first-hand experience.
Mr Johnson’s brush with death left a lasting impression that has since prompted a renewed drive against obesity.
Some have claimed that Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s swift recovery from Covid-19, may have proved beneficial, politically, bolderting his claims that the pandemic has been overblown and strengthening his image as a “superhuman messiah”.
Mr Bolsonaro had repeatedly downplayed the severity of the pandemic, often joining rallies without wearing a mask and sidelining medical experts.
Trump covid timeline
Other leaders who have tested positive include Jeanine Añez, the president of Bolivia, Iraj Harirchi, Iran’s deputy health minister, Juan Orlando Hernandez, the president of Honduras, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Pierre Nkurunziza, president of the East African nation of Burundi, died suddenly on June 8.
The government said it was a cardiac arrest but it is widely believed that he was the first world leader to die of Covid-19.
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