World Reacts To Trump Testing Positive For Coronavirus — In Sympathy And Mockery

• Donald Trump

News of the infection of the most powerful man in the world with the most notorious disease in the world drew instant reactions of shock, sympathy, undisguised glee and, of course, the ever-present outrage and curiosity that follow much of what Donald Trump does, even from 10,000 miles away.

Trump’s announcement Friday, on Twitter, that he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, and the deep uncertainty that accompanied it, permeated the global news cycle, upending countless plans and sparking comment everywhere from presidential offices to the thousands looking to weigh in on social media.

Read Also: Shares, Oil Prices Plunge After Trump, Wife Test Positive For Coronavirus

The positive test reading for the leader of the world’s largest economy adds more uncertainty to investors’ worries, including, most prominently, how the infection might affect the Nov. 3 election between Trump, a Republican, and Democrat Joe Biden. U.S. stock futures and Asian shares fell in the wake of the news.

The future contracts for both the S&P 500 and the Dow industrials lost 1.9% per cent Oil prices also slipped. Stock prices in Japan and Australia tumbled.

“To say this potentially could be a big deal is an understatement,” Rabobank said in a commentary.

“Anyway, everything now takes a backseat to the latest incredible twist in this U.S. election campaign.”

World leaders and officials were quick to weigh in, and there was both sympathy and something approaching schadenfreude.