President Donald Trump announced on Thursday evening that he, along with First Lady Melania Trump, tested positive for COVID-19. In response to the shocking news, the poker community had much to say about the issue.
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” Trump tweeted.
The president didn’t provide details of his conditions, although his administration said he has “mild symptoms.” But not everyone is buying the story, and that includes Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu, an enthusiastic Trump-hater and staunch liberal. “Kid Poker” seems to think the president might just be faking his illness as a “political ploy.”
This should tell you the state of the country right about now:
The POTUS just said he and the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19 and half my Twitter feed is like,
“Hmmm, is this a brilliant chess move?”
Unsure if it’s true or a political ploy.
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) October 2, 2020
Poker pro Matt Glantz also joked about Trump potentially lying about his condition as a ploy to avoid the upcoming debates against Joe Biden.
Trump asked his advisor: “Debate was bad, what should I do’?
Advisor: “Be positive, be patient’
Trump: “Got it!”— Matt Glantz (@MattGlantz) October 2, 2020
Vanessa Selbst, another anti-Trump liberal, is also a bit cautious in believing Trump actually tested positive for COVID-19. But despite her disdain for the president, she said she hopes he recovers, if in fact he’s been infected.
“I hope Trump recovers from COVID-19 (if he really has it), or else the GOP drastically improves their election chances. Also, would really be unsatisfying for him not to end up in jail,” Selbst wrote.
I hope Trump recovers from COVID-19 (if he really has it), or else the GOP drastically improves their election chances. Also, would really be unsatisfying for him not to end up in jail.
— Vanessa Selbst 🏳️🌈 (@VanessaSelbst) October 2, 2020
Deeb speaks from experience
Shaun Deeb has some first-hand experience of the severity of COVID-19. He spent a few days in Mexico hospitalized with the virus. The poker pro from New York kept in good spirits during his hospital stay but admitted the experience was difficult and painful. As expected, he was quick to provide a take on Trump’s positive test.
First COVID got me and my friends then it got @MikeDentale now it got trump shits about to go down
— shaun deeb (@shaundeeb) October 2, 2020
Deeb isn’t the only poker pro to have contracted COVID-19. His pal Mike Dentale, a hardcore Trump supporter, recently tested positive. Dentale has recovered and said his sickness “helped me to lose that annoying last bit of fat at the bottom of my stomach.” So, at least he kept in good spirits, as did Deeb. ESPN poker announcer Norman Chad and high-stakes pro David “Doc” Sands were also among those in the poker community who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Randy Ohel, a liberal, also took a shot at the president. The poker pro who recently announced he’s contemplating a career change, aimed his attack on the president’s previous reference to the coronavirus as the “Chinese Virus.”
Suddenly when he has it, it’s COVID-19, not “Kung flu” or some shit https://t.co/AJ2CF8C6AU
— Randy Ohel (@randyohel) October 2, 2020
Trump and the First Lady are currently quarantining. It’s unclear for how long they’ll avoid public interactions. The second debate is scheduled for October 15 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts in Miami, Florida. If the president is still experiencing symptoms are hasn’t produced a negative COVID test, it’s likely the debate will be cancelled.
Featured image source: Flickr
