Following his release from Walter Reed Medical Center on Monday, Trump tweeted that Americans should not “be afraid of Covid.” Amanda Kloots, the widow of late Broadway star Nick Cordero, clapped back in an Instagram post, calling out Trump’s hypocrisy and insensitivity.
“Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life,” Trump wrote on Twitter Monday afternoon. “We have developed, under the Trump administration, some really great drugs and knowledge.”
The tweet garnered widespread backlash, with many, including Chris Evans, pointing out that most Americans do not have the same access to expert medical care and experimental drugs that Trump does. The president received specialized medical attention in the interest of his recovery.
The tweet also drew sharp criticism from Kloots, who posted an Instagram Story explaining why it was so disheartening in relation to the death of Cordero. The 41-year-old Broadway star and dad of one passed away after a months-long battle with COVID-19 in July.
“It’s beyond hurtful. Have some empathy,” she says. “Why are you bragging? Have empathy to the Americans, that you are our leader, have empathy to the people who are suffering and grieving.”
She continues, saying, “To act like this disease is nothing and you got right over it, I’m so happy. Thank god you did. But guess what? There are a lot of people that didn’t.”
In a later Instagram post, Kloots wrote, “To all the over 208,000 Americans who lost loved ones to this virus – I stand by you, with you, holding your hand. Unfortunately it did dominate our lives didn’t it? It dominated Nick’s family’s lives and my family’s lives. I guess we ‘let it’ – like it was our choice?? Unfortunately not everyone is lucky enough to spend two days in the hospital…”
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“I cried next to my husband for 95 days watching what COVID did to the person I love. It IS something to be afraid of. After you see the person you love the most die from this disease you would never say what this tweet says,” she wrote.
It is reported that upon his return to the White House, Trump is continuing to be closely monitored by health professionals and will undergo further treatment as necessary.
The American COVID-19 death toll currently sits at over 210,000 people.
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H/T CNN