Donald Trump invoked his son Barron’s positive coronavirus case in a push to physically reopen U.S. schools, saying that the 14-year-old was unaffected by the virus because of his immune system.
Trump also bizarrely called Barron by his full name, which struck many on the internet as odd.
“Barron Trump, he had the corona-19,” Trump told a crowd at a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, referring to the novel coronavirus. “He had the China virus, right? And he had it for such a short period of time. I don’t even think he knew he had it because they’re young and their immune systems are strong and they fight it off 99.9 percent. And Barron is beautiful, and he’s free, free.”
Trump noted that his wife, first lady Melania Trump, shared the news that Barron had previously tested positive earlier that day. His son has since tested negative for the virus, the first lady said Wednesday.
“It happens. People have it, and it goes. Get the kids back to school. We’ve got to get them back to school,” the president told the crowd.
The private school Barron attends in the Washington, D.C., area, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, has conducted all-virtual classes thus far this school year.
Children can contract COVID-19, though evidence indicates they are less likely to experience severe illness or death compared with their older counterparts. Elderly individuals are considered a high-risk population with respect to the coronavirus. The highly infectious disease has killed more than 215,000 people in the U.S. and more than 1 million worldwide.
Still, what a weird way to talk about your teenage child:
Trump says that Barron Trump has "corona-19" pic.twitter.com/1wKRBVnXVk [1]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 15, 2020 [2]
Twitter had some thoughts:
I guess his supporters don't know who Barron is. Heaven forbid he'd say "My son Barron" Must stick the Trump name on everything, even his son. https://t.co/iGTgv88Te5 [3]
— J (@BritBratMum) October 15, 2020 [4]
Dude, if your dad ever refers to you in the third person, you know you fucked up with him somewhere and he’s not forgetting it anytime soon. https://t.co/N78vpz9qsk [5]
— Stewart Moncure (@rsmon77) October 15, 2020 [6]
Trump never had a father, and neither have any of his kids. What a fucked up pathetic excuse for a man. https://t.co/maf0JF3NXX [7]
— john sundman (@jsundmanus) October 15, 2020 [8]
Nothing about him is normal. I feel badly for Barron. You don’t get to choose your parents. @realDonaldTrump [9] other kids are all despicable grifting lowlifes. They deserve their father. https://t.co/h2LpERSx77 [10]
— Arden Messing @ Home (@arden_messing) October 15, 2020 [11]
"Barron Trump" like he's never heard of the kid before. https://t.co/7EyhmOKwMK [12]
— Lynn Mercereau (@lynnmercereau) October 15, 2020 [13]
I was expecting him to say 'melania's son' … I mean at least he knew his name
— Bmblbeeb🐝 (@Bmblbeeb) October 15, 2020 [14]
I'm sure everyday someone has to remind him that he actually has four other children other than Ivanka. He was probably just reminded that day about his youngest son.
— Rita W. (@RitaWal75917152) October 15, 2020 [15]