President Donald Trump is dismissing concerns about the uptick in coronavirus cases as many states work to combat the increases that have come with states reopening.
During a recent event at the White House, the Trump administration was initially supposed to highlight positive measures to assist senior citizens.
However, at one point during the event, Trump suggested that the staggering number of coronavirus cases would decrease if the country just stopped performing tests.
“If we stop testing right now, we’d have very few cases, if any,” Trump said.
The remark came just hours after Trump’s previous statement about testing.
On Monday morning, the president tweeted a relatively different perspective on testing as he applauded the country’s expanded testing and insisted that it is the real reason for the surge in cases.
“Our testing is so much bigger and more advanced than any other country (we have done a great job on this!) that it shows more cases. Without testing, or weak testing, we would be showing almost no cases. Testing is a double edged sword – Makes us look bad, but good to have!!!” Trump tweeted.
Our testing is so much bigger and more advanced than any other country (we have done a great job on this!) that it shows more cases. Without testing, or weak testing, we would be showing almost no cases. Testing is a double edged sword – Makes us look bad, but good to have!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2020
Trump’s dismissal of the uptick in cases also comes just days before his upcoming campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The president is claiming more than 1 million people have requested tickets for the event.
Almost One Million people request tickets for the Saturday Night Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2020
While protesters have been criticized for large gatherings with little social distancing, the demonstrations have been held outdoors. Trump’s rally, however, will be a large gathering indoors.
The upcoming rally will be Trump’s first re-election campaign rally since March. However, the president’s campaign team has guaranteed precautions will be taken.
Trump’s campaign manager Brad Parscale tweeted that masks, sanitizer, and temperature checks will be conducted upon entering.
Over 1M ticket requests for the @realDonaldTrump #MAGA Rally in Tulsa on Saturday.
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) June 15, 2020
Before entering each guest will get:
✅Temperature check
✅Hand sanitizer
✅Mask
There will be precautions for the heat and bottled water as well.
As of Tuesday morning, there are more than 2.1 million positive coronavirus cases in the United States including 8,417 cases in the state of Oklahoma. The country’s death toll stands at 118,321.
