As the nation marked the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from the Coronavirus in just over three months, President Donald Trump spent Wednesday talking about almost any other subject, attacking Twitter, jabbing at the news media, questioning the Russia investigation, denouncing expanded mail-in voting, and again pressing a conspiracy theory that an ex-GOP Congressman was involved in the death of a female aide almost 19 years ago.
"He is arguably the greatest president in our history," the President quoted Fox Business host Lou Dobbs saying about him.
President Trump's only official comment related to the virus outbreak came in a single tweet early on Wednesday morning, in which he highlighted the growing number of virus tests nationwide.
"We pass 15,000,000 Tests Today, by far the most in the World," Mr. Trump tweeted, adding, "Open Safely!"
But there was no mention by the President, no tweet, no written statement in his name honoring those who have died, or who remain hospitalized by the Coronavirus.
Democrats moved to fill the void.
"Would you have ever thought that we would be observing 100,000 people?" asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a Capitol Hill news conference.
From his home in Delaware, former Vice President Joe Biden took aim at the President as well.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," Biden said, marking the 100,000 death toll.
"They were not numbers. They were our neighbors. Our friends. Our family," said Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO).
The President met with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Oval Office on Wednesday morning, and then flew to Florida, only to have the launch of a SpaceX crew vehicle scrubbed by bad weather.
Over 1,400 deaths were reported in the U.S. on Wednesday, with over 300 combined from Illinois and New Jersey, two states which continue to struggle with virus cases.
"This is a tragic day. My heart aches for those we have lost," said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA).
"The day the United States hit 100,000 deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic Trump shares a messages calling himself “the greatest President in our history," said Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA). "His vanity is nauseating."
On Capitol Hill, Democrats pressed for more money to conduct virus testing and tracing, but Senate Republicans have refused to bring up a House-passed bill with $75 billion more in funding.
"Are we going to do what we need to do to prevent the next 100,000 deaths?" asked former CDC Chief Dr. Tom Frieden.
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