Twitter users are sharing a tweet made by Joe Biden exactly one year ago that warned America was not prepared for a pandemic under President Donald Trump.
The tweet, which has since been shared more than 65,000 times, was unwittingly a harbinger for things to come prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are not prepared for a pandemic. Trump has rolled back progress President Obama and I made to strengthen global health security,” Biden tweeted on Oct. 25, 2019. “We need leadership that builds public trust, focuses on real threats, and mobilizes the world to stop outbreaks before they reach our shores.”
We are not prepared for a pandemic. Trump has rolled back progress President Obama and I made to strengthen global health security. We need leadership that builds public trust, focuses on real threats, and mobilizes the world to stop outbreaks before they reach our shores. https://t.co/1qqpgayUEX — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 25, 2019
With the 2020 presidential election less than two weeks away, the tweet is gaining newfound attention as U.S. deaths from COVID-19 surpass 225,000.
Supporters of the Democratic presidential nominee are arguing that the tweet is evidence of not only Trump’s failure but of Biden’s superior leadership.
“A year ago today. Before COVID hit,” @RonaldKlain tweeted. “Your choice, America: Someone who saw it coming vs. someone who still doesn’t see it.”
A year ago today. Before COVID hit.
Someone who saw it coming vs. someone who still doesn't see it. https://t.co/ZAFJDYWxUv — Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) October 25, 2020
Check the date on this one –> https://t.co/jXfInySQLK — Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) October 25, 2020
Many users also pointed to comments made by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Sunday, in which he argued that the Trump administration would not be able to control the pandemic.
“The White House Chief of Staff admitted that they have no plan to contain the virus,” @creynoldsnc said. “I’d rather put someone in charge who noted this a year ago, has a plan, and won’t give up on the fight.”
The White House Chief of Staff admitted that they have no plan to contain the virus. I'd rather put someone in charge who noted this a year ago, has a plan and won't give up on the fight.
Vote #BidenHarris https://t.co/hCZrQn2PbP — Christina Reynolds (@creynoldsnc) October 25, 2020
Meadows, chief of staff to President Trump, says:
“We are not going to control the pandemic.” https://t.co/msXpyfraeY — Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) October 25, 2020
Trump, Thursday night: “He was months behind me, many months behind me.”
Biden, a fucking YEAR ago: https://t.co/CyF3wHL5J1 — Ben Wexler (@mrbenwexler) October 25, 2020
The official Twitter account for Biden also took notice of the attention around the tweet, noting that the pandemic “didn’t have to be this bad.”
“The hard truth is it didn’t have to be this bad,” Biden tweeted. “But Donald Trump’s shortsighted actions weakened our ability to respond to a pandemic long before COVID-19 reached our shores.”
The hard truth is it didn't have to be this bad. But Donald Trump's shortsighted actions weakened our ability to respond to a pandemic long before COVID-19 reached our shores. https://t.co/qTdtIQgmZU — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 25, 2020
The tweet also garnered attention from Trump supporters. But instead of admitting that Biden had correctly warned that the country was ill-prepared, conservatives argued that the tweet was proof that the pandemic was secretly orchestrated by the former vice president.
Jo Rae Perkins, a Republican candidate for the Senate in Oregon, accused Biden of knowing “something about the coronavirus” prior to its spreading in the U.S.
It appears Mr. Hiddin’ Biden you knew something About the coronavirus a few months before it hit the US. it’s not a pandemic & it’s a planDemic; but you already knew that. #PerkinsForU.S.Senate Will help Pres Trump by confirming Fed judges. #ArrestsComing. — Jo Rae Perkins (@PerkinsForUSSen) September 13, 2020
Q sent me. Coincidence or foreknowledge? pic.twitter.com/SncSRYlwEW — Nicole Mitka (@nrmitka) May 28, 2020
It’s very interesting that you knew about Covid before it was a thing here. Seems very planned! 🧐 — Amy⭐️ (@supertrumpgirl) September 13, 2020
Ironically, long before absurdly blaming Biden for the pandemic, Trump supporters accused the former vice president of fear-mongering when he initially made the tweet.
“Creepy Joe, the scare tactics and fear mongering doesn’t work anymore!” @DanMull64774209 wrote at the time. “WE THE PEOPLE are a lot smarter than you.. TRUMP 2020.”
Creepy Joe, the scare tactics and fear mongering doesn’t work anymore! WE THE PEOPLE are a lot smarter than you.. TRUMP 2020 — Dan Muller (@DanMull64774209) October 26, 2019
The left won’t win by peddling fear — David Gelfuso (@luckyfuso) October 27, 2019
We have all the leadership we need. This is one time that I wish there were no term limits on the Presidency. Trump 2020! — chris (@chris41488068) October 27, 2019
For comparison, one year ago today Trump was using Twitter to complain to Apple CEO Tim Cook that the button on the iPhone “was FAR better than the Swipe!”
2ndtryagain on October 25th, 2020 at 20:54 UTC »
What this tweet doesn't cover is the fact the President Clinton started working on pandemic threat and Bush came into Office and continued the work and handed off Obama a plan to work with and build on.
Trump threw away a Bipartisan multi-administration plan to deal with something like COVID-19.
edkamar on October 25th, 2020 at 19:42 UTC »
The previous Administration which included Biden, left the current Administration with all the tools they needed to fight the pandemic.
What did Trump and current Administration do when they took power, they disassembled them.
Trumps’s Administration “Nobody could have anticipated this (pandemic) happening”. False, a plan existed so that if the unlikely happened you have a plan that can be used to reduce causalities.
mjsmth on October 25th, 2020 at 19:24 UTC »
The replies on the tweet are brutal.
Dumbest people in the world.
“HE KENW!!!! He planned the China!”