Oct. 6 (UPI) — Facebook and Twitter blocked a post Tuesday from President Donald Trump for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
Trump’s post falsely claimed that the COVID-19 is less deadly than the seasonal flu, prompting Twitter to hide the post on its platform and Facebook to remove the post altogether.
The United States had “learned to live with,” the flu season “just like we are learning to live with Covid, in most populations far less lethal!,” Trump’s post reads.
Doctors and scientists are working to estimate the mortality rate of COVID-19, but it is thought to be substantially higher — possibly 10 times or more — than that of most strains of the flu, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Trump’s post is hidden behind a warning label on Twitter and users must click on “View” to see it.
“This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19,” the Twitter warning label said. “However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.”
Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone told CNN that the social media company removed the post for similarly breaking its rules on spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
As of Tuesday morning, COVID-19 has infected over 7.4 million people in the United States and killed over 210,300, the Johns Hopkins University global tracker shows.
From the 2019-20 seasonal flu, an estimated 22,000 people died in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The deadliest flu season since 2010 was in 2017-18, with an estimated 61,000 deaths, the CDC data shows.
Trump announced his departure from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he was being treated for COVID-19, in a tweet where he said, “don’t be afraid of Covid.”
His physician, Dr. Sean Conley, said Monday the president, “may not entirely be out of the woods yet.” Once he got back to the balcony at the White House Trump removed his mask and saluted as he posed for photographs.
A new Cornell Alliance for Science study based on a thorough review of almost 40 million English-language news reports worldwide found that Trump “was likely the largest driver of COVID-19 misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic,” which researchers referred to as an “infodemic.”
Twitter and Facebook also removed a post from Trump in August for similarly making false claims about the coronavirus.
In the August post, Trump falsely claimed that children are “almost immune” to the virus.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trump tweeted, “Repeal Section 230!”
Trump did not make clear exactly what he was referring to, but Section 230 is shorthand for part of U.S. law that allows tech companies immunity for nearly all of their decisions about content moderation.
President Donald Trump hospitalized for COVID-19
President Donald Trump returns to the Truman Balcony of the White House on Monday after three days of treatment for COVID-19 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Trump removes his face mask and continued to downplay the pandemic, telling Americans not to fear the virus. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Trump thanked the medical team at Walter Reed for his care, which included some experimental treatments. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Trump, joined by Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, returns to the White House aboard Marine One. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
A member of a cleaning crew disinfects the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, where a coronavirus outbreak has infected visitors, journalists and staff. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
A member of the cleaning crew wearing protective gear sprays disinfectant in the lower press area of the White House. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
A Trump supporter in campaign gear — including a face mask — joins a gathering outside the hospital Monday before Trump was discharged. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
A woman argues with a person dressed as the Grim Reaper outside Walter Reed on Monday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Trump supporters participate in an impromptu rally outside the hospital before the president’s departure on Monday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
The president physician, Dr. Sean Conley, said in a briefing Monday before Trump’s release that Trump “may not entirely be out of the woods yet.” Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Trump walks out of the hospital, where he was given intravenous drugs and supplemental oxygen to fight the virus. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
Marine One lands to pick up Trump from the hospital. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Notes and signs of well wishes are left outside the hospital during Trump’s stay. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
The president posted several tweets Monday morning, criticizing the media and calling for his supporters to vote. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Alyssa Farah, White House director of strategic communications, speaks to reporters at the White House on Sunday. Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
Meadows listens in the background as Conley gives an update Sunday on the condition of the president, saying he could be released as early as Monday. Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI | License Photo
Walter Reed has a secure presidential suite. Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
Conley briefs reporters on the president’s condition Saturday morning at Walter Reed. Conley said Trump was doing “very well.” Photo by Rod Lamkey/UPI | License Photo
Trump waves from the presidential motorcade upon arriving at Walter Reed on Friday. He also made a “surprise” motorcade visit outside the hospital on Sunday. Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
The hospital is run by the U.S. Department of Defense. Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
Trump exits the Marine One helicopter with Meadows on arrival at Walter Reed after the short flight from the White House. Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
U.S. Secret Service agents wearing protective face masks stand by as Trump departs from the South Lawn of the White House on Marine One for the short flight to Bethesda on Friday. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI | License Photo
White House staff wear protective face masks as they wait for the president’s departure from the White House. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI | License Photo
Trump boards Marine One for the trip to the hospital. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI | License Photo
Trump, accompanied by staffers, walks from the White House to the helicopter under his own power. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI | License Photo
Trump exits the White House. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI | License Photo
First lady Melania Trump, who has also contracted COVID-19, remained in the White House to recover. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/UPI | License Photo
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany walks away from the microphones after talking to members of the media outside the West Wing of the White House on Friday. On Monday, she tested positive for COVID-19. Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo
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