Trump Gets COVID-19: World Leaders Express Sympathy, But China Mocks President

Global leaders have reacted to the news that U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 by expressing their wishes for a speedy recovery.

Trump informed the world of his condition in a tweet after midnight that said he and his wife will be quarantined as they seek to recover from the illness.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson – who contracted the virus himself earlier this year and was hospitalized for three days – said: “My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus.”

In a telegram, according to Interfax news agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote to Trump: “I am certain that your inherent vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi – considered one of Trump’s strongest allies among foreign leaders – tweeted that he was wishing him “a quick recovery and good health.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, another strong Trump ally, said: “Like millions of Israelis, [my wife] Sara and I are thinking of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and wish our friends a full and speedy recovery.”

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany sent her best wishes to Trump and Melania and said she hoped they will recover “soon,” Reuters reported.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, yet another close ally of Trump, wished him a speedy recovery, and asserted that Poland and the U.S. “will get through the hardships and succeed in fighting COVID-19.”

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also wished Trump a speedy recovery.

Within the U.S., Democratic Presidential challenger Joe Biden tweeted that he and his wife Jill “send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery. We will continue to pray for the health and safety of the president and his family.”

Tulsi Gabbard, the congresswoman from Hawaii who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination, sent her “best wishes … during this difficult time” to Trump.

However, some world leaders refused to comment on Trump’s condition or were less than graceful.

In Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said the Tokyo government would not comment on Trump’s condition. But he added that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s scheduled visit to Japan next week will occur as expected.

The editor of the Global Times, which is controlled by the Chinese government, ridiculed Trump and said he “paid the price” for downplaying the threat COVID-19.

Hu Xijin tweeted: "It will impose a negative impact on the image of Trump and the U.S. and may also negatively affect his reelection.”

Trump has repeatedly blamed China for spreading the virus around the world.

But even some of Trump’s critics – and those who have been criticized by him – including Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, sent best wishes to the president.

U.S. civil rights activist Rev. Jessie Jackson tweeted: “We sincerely pray the President [and] the First Lady do not have the worst of this disease. We must all pray for the full recovery of the President [and] his wife. For whatever religious or political persuasion you may be, we must all pray as millions of people are affected by this disease.”