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President Donald Trump insists that his response to the virus that's killed nearly 70 thousand Americans has been perfect, and that he's taken the virus seriously from the start.
Like over 18 thousand other statements the President has made since his inauguration, this isn't true.
The President routinely dismissed the virus at the beginning, and now praises his response because he continues to move the goalposts of the number of deaths that qualifies as a "good job."
At first, when there were only 15 cases in the United States, Trump assured that there would be zero cases in a week, implying that there'd also be zero deaths.
He later said that 100 thousand to 200 thousand deaths would be considered a "good job." When some models began predicting 50 thousand to 60 thousand deaths, the President quickly adjusted to that number. In a Sunday night Fox News town hall, after the number of deaths surpassed 60 thousand, the President began estimating up to 90 thousand deaths, saying it "goes up rapidly."
It wasn't long before The Daily Show pointed out the erratic estimates by painting Trump as an auctioneer.
Watch below.
Trump out here moving the goalposts on coronavirus deaths like an auctioneer https://t.co/nb6Eo92MYJ— The Daily Show (@The Daily Show) 1588634768.0
The shows Trump saying 60 thousand then 65 thousand then 70 thousand, 75 thousand, 80 thousand, 90 thousand, and finally 100 thousand to 200 thousand.
People agreed that Trump sounded like an especially lethargic auctioneer.
Do I hear 60? Can I get a 65? Going to 100, anyone? https://t.co/OHUMoJAnD1— Jennifer Hayden (@Jennifer Hayden) 1588684856.0
We're at 60 … do I hear 65? 65 to the orange gentleman, do I hear 70? https://t.co/Ntdh5bylAZ— Duty To Warn 🔉 (@Duty To Warn 🔉) 1588635745.0
Going once. Going twice. Gone. https://t.co/n34BraooGs— Dan Fagin (@Dan Fagin) 1588679866.0
It would be funnier if he weren't talking about actual people.
I know nothing is supposed to surprise us at this point, but the President of the United States saying that "we've… https://t.co/GER0ujHaI6— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) 1588683102.0
This man... This man.. The man is just auctioning death tolls like it's girls scout cookies.. I do do detest this… https://t.co/7z12FwbxXu— Sassy, Goofy bt Nasty is ?able🤷🏾♀️/Show-Off😋🤪 (@Sassy, Goofy bt Nasty is ?able🤷🏾♀️/Show-Off😋🤪) 1588680243.0
Try not to cry. Or scream bloody murder. This isn’t frigging cattle. He’s talking about 200,000 of us. This year.… https://t.co/kd0Vh1SyDs— Karen Myatt (@Karen Myatt) 1588674867.0
He talks about it like it's nothing. https://t.co/jNShm8uN8Q— Anagarika (@Anagarika) 1588679942.0
Where will the goal posts go next?
'We've killed everybody in America. I think we did a hell of a job' https://t.co/L5VXMzc1VH— Badd Company (@Badd Company) 1588636009.0
"Things will go back to normal. They just have to. It might not be today. It might not be tomorrow. It might not be… https://t.co/SwFlR6fouh— James Poniewozik (@James Poniewozik) 1588684972.0
15 cases going to zero... 50 - 60 thousand...and we are done. 150,000...when does it stop? https://t.co/QlXR0WVSZi— Acci Mentator (@Acci Mentator) 1588664271.0
For a deeper look into Trump's ineptitude, check out A Very Stable Genius, available here.