A number of furious Hollywood stars have been voicing their anger following US president Donald Trump’s latest comments about the coronavirus pandemic.
On Monday night, Trump returned to the White House after three days in hospital, having been diagnosed with Covid-19 at the end of last week.
After posing for photographs after removing his face covering, Trump posted a video on Twitter in which he urged Americans not to be “afraid” of the virus.
“Don’t let it dominate. Don’t let it take over your lives. Don’t let that happen,” he said.
“We have the greatest country in the world. We’re going back. We’re going back to work. We’re going to be out front. As your leader, I had to do that. I knew there’s danger to it, but I had to do it.”
He also told Americans not to be “afraid” of the virus, saying a vaccine would be “coming momentarily”.
Since the video was posted, a number of Trump’s famous detractors have criticised his message, including Marvel star Chris Evans and showbiz legend Bette Midler.
“Don’t be afraid of Covid?!” Chris questioned. “You’ve been under round-the-clock care by the best doctors using the best drugs. Do you really think everyone has access to that?!”
Bette also blasted the president’s “selfishness”, branding him “idiot in chief”:
Others have shared their thoughts about Trump’s comments, as well as the footage of him removing his face mask upon his return to the White House:
Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway – whose husband has been in intensive care for the last six months due to Covid complications – also shared her view during Tuesday’s show.
“It’s extraordinary isn’t it?” she began. “It is extraordinary. It’s heartbreaking, actually.
“His attitude, you could argue, sanctioned the behaviour at that event whenever it was in September. Now nine people have been infected, 10 including him, would they have even traced many of the other people?”