Donald Trump: children 'virtually immune' to coronavirus as he defends his previous claim

President Donald Trump defended his call to reopen schools this fall by claiming children are "virtually immune" from COVID-19 and that the coronavirus will "go away" soon.

“This thing’s going away – It will go away like things go away," Trump said during a wide-ranging interview on "Fox & Friends" a day after authorities reported more than 1,000 Americans died of the virus.

Children can catch – and pass on – the coronavirus, doctors have said. The National Education Association has cited that in arguing that reopening schools this fall may maintain spikes in the spread of the virus, which has claimed more than 150,000 American lives.

Trump said as early as February that the virus would eventually "disappear," but the pandemic has accelerated at various points over the past five months.

[Manu-Official]

"They have a tremendous immune system, really tremendous." (plays air accordion)

[winduslel]

He knows everything beyond scientists so maybe we shall call him Dr Trump.

[johnafish]

Dunno about the US but looking at UK (ONS) data comparing deaths by age-group for a 3 week period in February (when deaths were slightly below 'normal') with a 3 week period in April (when excess deaths peaked), only 0.03% of the excess deaths were people under 20 years old and only 0.01% were aged 1 to 15 years. So the UK data indicates children at very low risk from the virus. I consider this to be a good thing though I expect to get lots of down-votes from weirdo's.

[-moondust-]

Tell that to the family's who have lost their children to it!

[notablesquid]

He never said they are immune guys he said virtually immune which is true. Because very few children have died due to covid 19 and the ones that have had underlying health conditions.

[FluffMuffy]

He never once said "immune" throughout the entire conference?

[happy_teacherhappy_teach]

Even if that is true, children are immune...what about ALL the adults who teach and interact with these immune children!?!?! Answer that!?

[googoogjoobgoogoogjoob]

It must be true, he read somewhere on twitter, from where he gets all his 'facts'

[dieselkj]

Well it is true & has been known since back in March.

[nekocal]

The words "virtually immune" are not in this clip. Try harder

[LaGruesa]

My sister is an ICU nurse, in a Covid pod(Hospital with only COVID patients). This virus does not discriminate, it affects people differently. For some awful reason, it causes aortic swelling in alot of children, and furthermore, if children have it and rids it (like how he described) what about the adults around them? These kids can't go to a homeless shelter until the school year ends, they have to go home and spread the virus to their parents and grandparents.

[bobsondugnutt]

Yeah I don't see anything out of line about these particular statements. It's such a shame that our political culture involves overreacting in order to increase viewership. Doesn't help a bit that Trump exploits this strategy.

[fnq-]

As 97, 000 Kids in America catch Covid-19 - Trump keeps on with his ‘ Children are immune to the Virus’ Tubby is off his rocker.

[bodsvan]

So who is going to teach these children, some of whom will be infectious. No doubt teaches will die, and some children will contact it from class mates and pass it on to parents, grandparents, and others. This is the reality he is implying, but doesn't understand it.

[dalecrocker]

His choice of words may not be precise, but what he is saying is essentially correct.

[dominicwarrenable]

Anyone who doesn’t understand the science behind this FACT seriously needs a psychiatrist or simply a basic education 🙏

[mewsicsmary]

The most dangerous man in America! Discugusting.

[chewnz]

Evening standard without evidence claim Donald trump defends earlier claim.

[graveperil]

He is not proposing any thing different to what other countries are trying to do getting the kids back to school is vital both for them and for the countries as a whole as it frees up the parents.
But as its Trump the media pick on the a line of dialogue to ridicule him instead of what the detail of the plan is

[dildobaggins]

It is true children seem to take coronavirus very well