Inslee: Trump 'Hasn't Learned A Thing' After Catching Coronavirus

SEATTLE — Despite being hospitalized for coronavirus treatment over the weekend, the president downplayed its severity, tweeting Monday that people should not be afraid of the disease.

The coronavirus pandemic has taken the lives of more than 210,000 Americans. Among them were 2,142 Washingtonians. Shortly after Trump's announcement Monday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee took to Twitter to respond to Trump's statements and general dismissal of the pandemic, saying rather plainly: do not trust the president.

A larger statement followed from Inslee's office, elaborating on his concerns over the president's behavior, which reads in part:

"The president’s reckless comments reflect exactly the same nonsense thinking behind his failed pandemic response that increased the risk of COVID, a virus that has caused 210,000 deaths in the United States already — and hundreds more each day. He hasn’t learned a thing. Since he tested positive for COVID, more than 2,000 additional Americans have died and downplaying this danger is the best he can do?"

Inslee goes on to ask the president to reconsider his words and the impact they may have.

"His only statement now should be an acknowledgement that COVID is dangerous; that he was wrong when discouraging the use of masks and wrong to mock the experts," Inslee said. "He certainly should not be telling people there isn’t anything to worry about."

Shortly after Inslee issued his statement he was joined by Washington State Secretary of Health John Wiesman, who also condemned Trump's remarks as misguided:

“The president’s tweet is highly irresponsible and makes every public health official’s job that much more difficult. COVID-19 is a serious disease that is easily spread. We shouldn’t fear it; we should protect ourselves from it. Wear your mask. Watch your distance. Wash your hands. These are the basic facts.”

The president has also received flak for participating in a motorcade photo op outside of Walter Reed Hospital, which Secret Service agents called reckless, and which may have put their own health at risk.

While Inslee did not directly address that controversy, he did touch on one aspect of Trump's treatment that bears considering: that the president has health care, while many vulnerable Americans do not.

"It is easy for him to downplay the dangers when he has access to medical care that others don’t have," Inslee said. "President Trump has made it clear that the states are on their own."

Inslee did end his statement on a positive note however, commenting on Washington's recent success containing the virus through the use of facial coverings and social distancing.

"I am confident that Washingtonians will continue to mask up because we care for each other. Unlike Donald Trump, we realize that wearing a mask is a strength, a sign that we care about families and others around us," Inslee said. "Let there be no mistake — we are still in a pandemic and millions of Americans are acting like it. They are masking up and social distancing. They are making difficult choices to protect their health and the health of those around them. They deserve a president who will do the same."