Chuck Todd Slammed For Saying Joe Biden Takes COVID-19 'Too Seriously'

MSNBC anchor Chuck Todd drew the ire of social media by asking his guests if they thought Joe Biden was taking the COVID-19 pandemic “too seriously.”

The segment on his Thursday program discussed the campaigning efforts of Biden, as well as Donald Trump, who has routinely downplayed the virus and all but ignored it in his campaign speeches.

Todd's question comes after Trump retweeted a video Wednesday that showed many maskless supporters in Omaha, Nebraska, not adhering to social distancing guidelines. Trump has held rallies of similar size indoors, where COVID-19 transmission is an even graver risk.

Trump’s non-rally activities have reflected this nonchalance, plowing ahead full steam with door-to-door canvassing and the flouting of safety rules at debates. Biden has taken a more cautious approach, curtailing in-person events and ensuring that social distancing is respected. It’s this perceived disadvantage that Todd seems to have been referencing in his question.

“When you look at both candidates, in some ways, one not taking the virus seriously enough at all, and one, if there’s a criticism it might be is he taking the virus too seriously, at least when it comes to campaigning,” he asked, voicing concern over the “light Biden footprint.”

Todd did follow up to say, “It’s probably the only hole in the campaign infrastructure, which is obvious why it’s there: it’s due to the pandemic.”

Users on Twitter were less than sympathetic to the suggestion Biden should consider rolling back safety measures.

The topic shot to the top of Twitter’s trending page. Many voiced discontent more broadly with Todd’s show, and recalled that he had said Hillary Clinton seemed “over-prepared” for her debates in 2016.