donald-trump-receives-backlash

Donald Trump Receives Backlash for Motorcade Parade from Doctors and Secret Service

President Donald Trump is drawing criticism for leaving his suite at Walter Reed Medical Center on Sunday and greeting supporters standing outside the hospital.

In an apparent “last minute” decision, Trump decided to summon his motorcade for a Sunday evening joy ride. Trump has been staying at Walter Reed Hospital since last Friday when symptoms related to COVID-19 began to show. Trump’s treatment includes medication that isn’t available to the public at this time.

Conversely, Deputy White House Press Secretary Judd Deere issued a statement on Sunday to address the president’s decision.

“President Trump took a short, last-minute motorcade ride to wave to his supporters outside and has now returned to the Presidential Suite inside Walter Reed,” Deere said. “Appropriate precautions were taken in the execution of this movement to protect the president and all supporting it, including Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). The movement was cleared by the medical team as safe to do.”

Evidently, Trump’s Sunday stroll is drawing harsh criticism from medical professionals, public figures and social media users. For example, Walter Reed Medical Center Physician James P. Phiilips tweeted out his disapproval of Trump’s actions over the weekend.

Doctors Respond to Trump

https://twitter.com/DrPhillipsMD/status/1312867868028141568

“Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential “drive-by” just now has to be quarantined for 14 days,” he says. “They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity.”

Coupled with his first tweet, Phillips continued expressing his thoughts in a follow-up tweet calling the president’s actions irresponsible.

https://twitter.com/DrPhillipsMD/status/1312869454385229827

“That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack,” he tweets. “The risk of COVID-19 transmission inside is as high as it get outside of medical procedures. The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play.”

Meena Harris, Niece of Vice Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris, also got into the act.

https://twitter.com/meenaharris/status/1312875129303572481

“Imagine having a literal COVID parade,” she tweeted on Sunday.

Additionally, Professor of Medicine and Surgery at George Washington University Jonathan Reiner, called it a “joy ride” that put Trump’s “Secret Service detail at grave risk,” according to USA Today.

Trump remains in Walter Reed Medical Center for the time being and it is not yet known when he will get release.