Chinese Media Rush to Report Trump’s COVID-19 Diagnosis... Could Be Advantageous for Election

Trump Tests Positive, Isolation and Treatment Period Draw Attention... Biden May Lose Presence
Trump Mocks Masked Biden, Chinese Media Ridicule Trump for Violating Quarantine Guidelines

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] As news broke of U.S. President Donald Trump's positive diagnosis for COVID-19, after downplaying the risks of the novel coronavirus infection, Chinese state media flooded out with critical articles.

Chinese media outlets such as Xinhua News Agency and Global Times reported on the 2nd that President Trump and First Lady Melania had tested positive for COVID-19.

Global Times introduced a tweet directly posted by President Trump and reported on his health condition. It also added that Hope Hicks, a close aide to Trump, was the first to test positive.

Xinhua News Agency also reported that President Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and had entered quarantine.

In particular, it reported that on the 29th of last month, President Trump held the first TV debate with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, and that there is public concern in the U.S. about whether Biden has been infected with the virus.

Xinhua News Agency added that the current health condition of President Trump and his wife is good.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV also delivered the news of President Trump's COVID-19 test results in real-time, and the People's Daily reported on the positive diagnosis of the President and First Lady.

Global Times also covered the potential impact of President Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis on the November 3rd presidential election.

It analyzed that with only a month left until the election, the focus of U.S. politics could shift entirely to COVID-19.

Diao Daming, a professor at Renmin University of China, predicted, "All election campaigns will be suspended until President Trump fully recovers," adding, "President Trump will receive all attention and focus during his isolation and treatment period." He explained that Trump's positive diagnosis would diminish Biden's presence.

Ni Fang, director of the U.S. Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "If Trump recovers quickly, it will prove his health condition," and "It will be proof that he can lead the country for the next four years."

Global Times also mocked President Trump, who had downplayed COVID-19. Trump had repeatedly been criticized for underestimating the risks of COVID-19 and failing to properly follow prevention guidelines.

During the first TV debate, he even mocked Biden for always wearing a mask.

When news of President Trump's positive diagnosis broke, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of Global Times, mocked on his Twitter, saying, "He paid the price for gambling."

He said, "The news that the President and First Lady tested positive shows the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S." He added, "It will negatively affect the image of President Trump and the U.S., and could also negatively impact his re-election."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.