GA Candidates React To Trump Leaving Hospital With Coronavirus

ATLANTA, GA — President Donald Trump’s return to the White House Monday brought a variety of social-media responses from Georgia politicians, mostly Republican. Some were muted, some were thankful and a few practically gave Trump a high-five.

Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who’s expected to become the next U.S. representative from Georgia’s 14th district, was unequivocal Monday in congratulating Trump after he left Walter Reed Medical Center for treatment of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

“President @realDonaldTrump is selling HOPE. Joe Biden FEAR. What do you choose?” Greene tweeted.

Three hours later, Greene elaborated.

“A true leader leads in the front and doesn’t cower in fear. @realDonaldTrump has led our country through this unprecedented crisis winning battle after battle. Now he’s suffering with Covid-19 just like millions of Americans, and he beat it just like they did. God bless him!”

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jody Hice from Georgia’s 14th district used Trump’s return to the White House as an opportunity to bash the media.

“Media outlets, reporters & talking heads spent the last several months demanding everyone listen to experts & medical professionals — and shaming anyone who doesn’t. The same people now think they know better than @realDonaldTrump’s own doctors. The mainstream media is broken.”

Republican Rich McCormick — who’s running to represent Georgia’s 7th district and who is a medical doctor — was silent about Trump on Monday. On Friday, he tweeted that Walter Reed Medical Center was the best place for Trump to fight the virus.

“Anyone showing COVID-19 symptoms and in a higher risk category should be under the watchful eye of a medical team that can offer support as needed,” McCormick tweeted Friday.

Sen.David Perdue, fighting to keep his seat against Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff, simply tweeted wishes for Trump’s recovery when the president was first diagnosed, then urged all Georgians “to stay vigilant” fighting the coronavirus.

“Remember to follow the 3W’s: wash your hands, watch your distance, and wear your mask!” Perdue tweeted Friday.

On Sunday, Perdue posted a picture to social-media channels posing with female campaign workers, all but him wearing masks. There was no comment on Trump Monday or Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, who’s challenging Sen. Kelly Loeffler for Georgia’s other Senate seat, was similarly silent about Trump leaving the hospital, instead focusing on election issues and his conservative credentials.

Loeffler was hardly silent. On Monday afternoon, she tweeted an old video of Trump beating a man to the ground at WrestleMania, with a coronavirus superimposed over the victim’s head. Trump himself used the same video in 2017, altered to show him pummeling CNN.

“COVID stood NO chance against @realDonaldTrump!” Loeffler tweeted.

Loeffler’s tweet drew a response from Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock, who Monday retweeted her video with the comment “7,192 Georgians have died from COVID-19.”

As of Tuesday, more than 210,000 Americans have died of COVID-19.

COVID stood NO chance against @realDonaldTrump! pic.twitter.com/GtNPOHkDqF
— Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) October 5, 2020