The amount of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States will soon surpass 16,000, with over 200 deaths. Millions of Americans are facing sudden unemployment as businesses across the country close their doors to help curb its spread.
In a bizarre Friday press conference designed to assure Americans that his administration was keeping the situation under control, President Donald Trump berated a reporter and made wild unverified promises about a drug that hasn't even seen clinical trials.
His behavior gave Americans even more reasons to be concerned.
In one wild moment, when calling Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the podium, Trump referred to the State Department as the "Deep State Department," referring to the imaginary "deep state" network of government officials that Trump and his supporters believe are deliberately trying to undermine his presidency.
Dr. Anthony Fauci—head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and one of the few officials widely trusted by Americans to deliver accurate information regarding the pandemic—couldn't hide his reaction.
Watch below.
The moment Dr. Fauci hears "Deep State Department" https://t.co/lupkKbcgbr— Collin Murr (@Collin Murr) 1584728763.0
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Fauci himself have urged Americans to avoid touching their faces in the face of the highly contagious virus, but Dr. Fauci understandably forgot that advice in a moment of exasperation.
People noticed that Trump's ineptitude made Fauci forgot his own advice.
Dr. Fauci is breaking his own guidelines to try to make himself disappear https://t.co/vFld181nXL— Tananarive Due (@Tananarive Due) 1584723201.0
Even Fauci touching his face over this bonkers response https://t.co/BrFz1yMOIA— Jon Passantino (@Jon Passantino) 1584723287.0
Trump's nonsense is so toxic it even made Dr. Fauci touch his face, which as we all know, is a big no no. https://t.co/B2ZDMH1OPj— Jeremy Newberger (@Jeremy Newberger) 1584726546.0
It's gotta be pretty bad for the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease to be touchin… https://t.co/ZGOto3FEZU— Matthew Peddie (@Matthew Peddie) 1584723321.0
Nevertheless, people felt for the guy.
Whatever Fauci is making, it's not enough. https://t.co/I6MLsYtT8w— Kris MC (@Kris MC) 1584736217.0
This poor guy, trying to be the voice of sanity and reason and SCIENCE. Why haven't we all sent him a full bar? https://t.co/Xol7wP3fBn— We're all mad here... (@We're all mad here...) 1584724062.0
Dr. Fauci is an intellectual. He regularly surrounds himself with others on his intellectual & professional level.… https://t.co/8yi1VxJChn— Sonya ~ Establishment Dem 💙 🇺🇸 🌻♊🍷 (@Sonya ~ Establishment Dem 💙 🇺🇸 🌻♊🍷) 1584735305.0
Oh Dr. Fauci, I'm so sorry. You're way too competent to endure this. https://t.co/VgrGEbTgG7— Morgan Jerkins (@Morgan Jerkins) 1584723323.0
After all, many were feeling the same thing.
Dr. Fauci looks like how we all feel. This mothafukka here... https://t.co/TVS2YqTyy8— Shay Stewart Bouley (@Shay Stewart Bouley) 1584724012.0
We are all Anthony Fauci. https://t.co/E8qh3YRklh— Greg Pinelo (@Greg Pinelo) 1584726715.0
We are all Dr. Fauci https://t.co/SOn9oei0oW— Mary Beth O. (@Mary Beth O.) 1584734473.0
We totally understand, Doctor.