Trump blasted for spreading lies — then declaring ‘today is a national day of prayer’

President Donald Trump’s Twitter feed is a more accurate reflection of his positions and beliefs than his White House press briefings. Since the very beginning of the coronavirus crisis the President has made clear he doesn’t believe it is a crisis, has worked to minimize the amount of testing that can be done, and worked to spread falsehoods and outright lies in an attempt to make Americans believe the pandemic is not a massive health emergency. It is.
So perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that Sunday morning Trump kicked off the day with a lie. He retweeted this absolutely false claim by his re-election campaign’s national press secretary. No legitimate health expert would oppose testing as many people as possible to help slow the spread of coronavirus, if there were enough tests. But the Trump administration made sure there aren’t.
Thank you! https://t.co/fVGdP2Vxt8— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1584282937.0
But McEnany’s tweet isn’t just bluster, it’s a lie.
There are not one million or four million coronavirus tests available, that can be processed. There are tests that don’t work, there are tests the CDC created, sent out, then directed the medical community to not use because they are invalid. Bottom line: The U.S. has reportedly performed less than 20,000 tests as of Saturday.
Closing up the shop for the night. We're showing 19,066 tests. 2,182 positives. Here are the four states with the l… https://t.co/JRM7Q9X6Bv— The COVID Tracking Project (@The COVID Tracking Project)1584167583.0
Trump’s next tweet showed what he actually cares about:
Thank you Sara. Keep writing, great talent! https://t.co/ZMYHzicBcR— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1584283374.0
Then he shared this lie. Student loan interest is not being waived, as The New York Times reports. Student loans still have to be paid, and even the amount due isn’t changing. The only difference is the amount of the payment will now, temporarily, be applied to the principal – the amount borrowed – and not to pay off interest accrued. One caveat:
“When borrowers pause their monthly payments because of a hardship — a status known as forbearance — the interest normally continues to pile up until they can start paying again,” the Times notes. “Now, no interest will accrue as long as the waiver is in effect. This is true both for people already in forbearance and for those who may be soon.”
Trump posted several tweets praising Trump, then this one showing the right wing war against Hillary Clinton is thriving:
Great Job by Judicial Watch. Potentially a treasure trove. Too bad you are not given more help, but it will all wor… https://t.co/0Yr27yWLbe— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1584284311.0
And then, finally, this atrocity:
TODAY IS A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. GOD BLESS EVERYONE!— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1584284536.0
Given the coronavirus crisis, the intentional mishandling of the pandemic by President Trump, his administration’s daily inept actions making the disaster even worse, and Trump’s politicization of, well, everything, many were furious when he spewed lies, threw partisan grenades, then tried to hide behind a shield of religion – one that he himself constructed.
@realDonaldTrump When is National Day of COVID-19 Testing?— Chris Strider (@Chris Strider)1584288064.0
How about national day of SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND FUCKIN STATE. I'm a christian and this still angers me. You are… https://t.co/NQ7krToy1N— Tori Rito (@Tori Rito)1584288235.0
I'd rather some leadership and responsibility.... https://t.co/jgztdTfU4X— Jonathan Capehart (@Jonathan Capehart)1584287851.0
He sent this tweet 4 minutes after one about Hillary Clinton's emails. Yes, pray. https://t.co/4oYd6agsQy— Jackie Calmes (@Jackie Calmes)1584287457.0
National Day of Science, Reason and Informed Decision-Making still yet to be scheduled. https://t.co/Fm1mOPkbC5— Interview With The Wampire™ (@Interview With The Wampire™)1584285472.0
I don't like people who use their faith to do things they shouldn't do. Remember when you said that, like a month a… https://t.co/3c7ZVR3mTt— TLC_Painting (@TLC_Painting)1584288514.0
@realDonaldTrump What about a day of testing?— David Pakman (@David Pakman)1584285143.0
He really just hit us with "Thoughts and prayers" https://t.co/BgxlV5o5Ma— Alex (@Alex)1584288868.0
@realDonaldTrump Tests, ventilators and competent leadership. That's what will stop coronavirus NOT prayers.— Chidi®️ (@Chidi®️)1584284586.0
We are all praying that Americans that need to get tested for this deadly virus can a get access to testing kits th… https://t.co/aPq6tSQLdt— Mandy Thornton (@Mandy Thornton)1584289126.0
@realDonaldTrump I pray that medical science and reason prevail over ignorance and selfishness during the coronavir… https://t.co/zEBFVyNgwa— Eugene Gu, MD (@Eugene Gu, MD)1584285318.0
@realDonaldTrump Praying won’t get us the COVID-19 testing kits that you promised would be widely available. You h… https://t.co/z1r6CZRiGX— Jean L.P. Jaurès 🌎🔬📚⚖️ (@Jean L.P. Jaurès 🌎🔬📚⚖️)1584284667.0
I pray for a more informed electorate than the one that elected this fucking moron. https://t.co/ELikWiCKlr— Michael Dobozy (Progressives Show Up to Work) (@Michael Dobozy (Progressives Show Up to Work))1584285681.0
Dear GOD, I want to use this National Day of Prayer, to ask you to get this Charlatan, Impostor, Fake Christian, He… https://t.co/Td89ArFslG— Julie Pillay (@Julie Pillay)1584287047.0