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GOP House Leader Just Accidentally Gave Congressman Who Tested Positive the Perfect New Nickname and People Can't Even

GOP House Leader Just Accidentally Gave Congressman Who Tested Positive the Perfect New Nickname and People Can't Even
Astrid Riecken For The Washington Post via Getty Images // Patrick Semansky-Pool/Getty Images

After following President Donald Trump's lead and dismissing the virus that's killed over 150 thousand Americans, Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) tested positive for the virus before a scheduled trip with Trump on Air Force One.

Gohmert previously called fear of the virus "wishy washy" and, according to an aide of his, refused to allow members of his staff to work remotely, even interns. The aide also told Politico that they were berated for wearing masks.

The congressman's stance on the virus hasn't changed even in the midst of his positive diagnosis. Gohmert even mused that it was wearing a mask that gave him the virus in the first place, saying he likely adjusted the mask and "sucked in" some of the virus that transferred from his hand to the mask.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) attempted to walk back the humiliation of yet another Republican who dismissed the virus contracting it, but he ended up having what some may call a Freudian slip.

Watch below.

McCarthy said:

"Just as Congressman Covid, uh, Congressman Louie Gohmert says that he doesn't have any symptoms. There could be other people like that."

It was little more than a slip of the tongue, which King immediately corrected.

But considering criticisms that Gohmert and the rest of the GOP have repeatedly downplayed the virus and the need for subsequent safety measures, people felt the accidental nickname was perfect.






As often happens on the internet, a hashtag was born.





Gohmert intends to quarantine for ten days yet gathered his staff to tell them in person that he'd been diagnosed with the virus.