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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not believe Trump has Covid?

397 replies

GeorgeDavidson · 02/10/2020 09:05

Well, MN, does he or doesn't he?

YANBU - no, he doesn't have it
YABU - yes he probably does, why would they lie?

Is this just some ploy to miss next debates and make him look 'tough' when he sails through it without getting ill?

OP posts:
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6
icedaisy · 02/10/2020 09:07

Yanbu

Particularly given his comment "it affects virtually nobody".

TastelessBracelets · 02/10/2020 09:15

He'll get out of some of the electioneering work now won't he.

And on the off chance he does have it, I bet his wife doesn't but they have to say she has otherwise it'll look like she's not been within 2 metres of him.

Original poster
GeorgeDavidson · 02/10/2020 09:18

'I bet his wife doesn't but they have to say she has otherwise it'll look like she's not been within 2 metres of him.'

Didn't think of that - look how she greeted him at the end of the debate...

OP posts:
Brendabigbaps · 02/10/2020 09:20

Yanbu, Gives him a great excuse when he looses. It wasn’t a fair competition yadda yadda,

strawberrysandpecans · 02/10/2020 09:21

Goes to show where we are right now that it's hard to know and who can say. I'm wondering if he'll try to use it as an excuse to postpone the election indefinitely

cooperage · 02/10/2020 09:27

My instinct is that he hasn't got it. He's getting desperate and as Trump always does, he'll try any tactic to win.

In this case the sympathy vote, combined with the "told you it was just a sniffle (for strong white men like me)" when he reappears having magically shrugged it off.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 02/10/2020 09:27

This was my first thought on hearing the news tbh!

just think of the tweets he'll be writing about how strong he is when he recovers with no lasting damage.

CitizenFame · 02/10/2020 09:32

I don’t know but I wouldn’t like to speculate on someone’s health. The last time I did that on a forum it ended up with the person dying.

Anniegetyourgun · 02/10/2020 09:36

This reply has been deleted

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RNBrie · 02/10/2020 09:37

My DH agrees with you. First thing he said when we heard it on the radio this morning. I'm not so sure, it's a big lie to tell!!

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 02/10/2020 09:39

I think he probably does. While it would benefit him to miss the debates he has big issues with illness being a sign of weakness. I don’t think he has enough insight to realise why missing the debate is a good idea and admitting to having the virus would be a step to far. He could have said he had to quarantine because he’d been in contact with hope hicks and that would have got him out of the debate.

If he doesn’t have it I doubt he’ll be able to keep the pretence up for long.

SisyphusAndTheRockOfUntidiness · 02/10/2020 09:40

It's Fake News. He's very fond of his Fake News, & now he's propagating a bit of his own.

thepeopleversuswork · 02/10/2020 09:41

I'm sure he does.

It's not in his interests to say he has it if he doesn't. He's spent most of the last six months telling people it's just flu and he's meant to be the world's strongest man so it shoots a hole in his story.

Also he'll be out of action in a best case scenario for a fortnight when he's meant to be on the campaign trail.

Squidwitch · 02/10/2020 09:42

I think the very fact that within minutes of hearing he had it, so many people are wondering if he actually has, speaks volumes about how easily the lies drip from his mouth. If he fakes this, then says he is fine, never felt better, he will be dooming countless gullible US citizens to illness or death by believing him. On the other hand, if he has got it, and gets really ill, it could swing the sympathy vote. As usual, a lose-lose situation for humanity.

Tellmetruth4 · 02/10/2020 09:43

The Grifter in Chief pretended to have bone spurs to get out of serving his country. I don’t believe him.

AuntieStella · 02/10/2020 09:44

I think this says more about lack of trust in politicians than about his health.

I think there would be too many people who would know about this (medics, staffers) for it to be a viable cover up

Asterion · 02/10/2020 09:46

I think he's got it, because it imo it makes him look weak to have succumbed, espeicially to some of his rabid fanbase.

Far better to be able to say "See, we didn't both with those masks because I am SUPERHUMAN and this virus can't get me!"

Imagine the field day the Trump campaign would have had if Biden got the virus.

Also, given his age and physical size, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets it quite badly.

Asterion · 02/10/2020 09:46

@thepeopleversuswork

I'm sure he does.

It's not in his interests to say he has it if he doesn't. He's spent most of the last six months telling people it's just flu and he's meant to be the world's strongest man so it shoots a hole in his story.

Also he'll be out of action in a best case scenario for a fortnight when he's meant to be on the campaign trail.

Exactly this.
QuestionableMouse · 02/10/2020 09:47

My American friend reckons he's had a TIA/stroke or something and they're saying it's Covid because obviously they can't come out and say he's had a stroke because it'll bugger his chances.

TorkTorkBam · 02/10/2020 09:47

If he is positive he probably still believes it is trivial. He is so strong, the bigliest strong, that he will have it mildly and recover.

Itsabeautifuldayheyhey · 02/10/2020 09:50

Do you think his physician, who released a statement about it, is lying?

Why do you believe he would manage to escape contracting it from his counsellor, Hope Hicks, when both he and FLOTUS have been in very close and regular contact with her with neither of them wearing masks?

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 02/10/2020 09:53

@QuestionableMouse

My American friend reckons he's had a TIA/stroke or something and they're saying it's Covid because obviously they can't come out and say he's had a stroke because it'll bugger his chances.
It’s quite possibly both. He managed to start his own rumours about having had a TIA last month.
TorkTorkBam · 02/10/2020 09:53

@QuestionableMouse

My American friend reckons he's had a TIA/stroke or something and they're saying it's Covid because obviously they can't come out and say he's had a stroke because it'll bugger his chances.
Conspiracy theories normally make me roll my eyes but this one made me go ooooh, plausible.

Occam's razor though. There is genuinely a bad pandemic in the US. He has mingling widely lately with loads of people recently, while the infection rates increase, pointedly not taking protective measures. Catching covid would seem a likely outcome.

Yes convenient timing but also the infection rate is high where he is and because of the election he is socialising more and because of the election he is big on no social distancing bravado. Occam's Razor. I think he has it.

sashagabadon · 02/10/2020 09:56

I think he must have it as it would be such a crazy thing to lie about but it is a happy accident for his team.
Assuming he does not actually get ill with it of course.
If he does not get particularly ill that will only solidify his base so could work out well for him.

rorosemary · 02/10/2020 10:00

I know the chance is small and he will get the quickest, best health care available, but what happens to the election if one or both candidates die so close to the election date?