In the midst of a global crisis that has brought the country to a grinding halt as a result of mass shutdowns of whole industries, President Trump’s famously “unpresidential” Twitter feed has undergone a dramatic transformation. An account famous for blasting out bruising attacks on political enemies, has become a source for inspiration to a nation beset with widespread fear and uncertainty.
“I want all Americans to understand: we are at war with an invisible enemy, but that enemy is no match for the spirit and resolve of the American people,” President Trump declared online this week. “It cannot overcome the dedication of our doctors, nurses, and scientists — and it cannot beat the LOVE, PATRIOTISM, and DETERMINATION of our citizens. Strong and United, WE WILL PREVAIL!”
“STRONG & UNITED, WE WILL PREVAIL!” Trump exclaimed later that day along with a 1-minute video of him encouraging the nation. “We are going to WIN, sooner rather than later!” he assured Americans in a follow-up post.
Along with messages declaring American resolve and promoting optimism in the face of panic-inducing headlines, Trump has also made a point of thanking Americans in various industries working tirelessly for the good of their communities, states and country.
“Today I spoke with American physicians and nurses to thank them for their tireless work,” the president wrote Wednesday. “Doctors and nurses are at the front lines of this war and are true American HEROES! With their help, America will WIN.”
He also issued an emphatic “THANK YOU!” to American truckers keeping supplies coming in response to a tweet from American Trucking highlighting their actions and thanking Trump for praising their efforts. “America’s truckers are on the front lines of our nation’s response to the [COVID-19] pandemic,” wrote the group. “Thank you [President Trump] for highlighting their heroic and vital efforts, delivering food, water, fuel, medicine, medical supplies and other essentials across the USA.”
“THANK YOU to our Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and EMS who help us defeat the Virus every day,” Trump wrote in another thankful tweet on Thursday. “Our proud nation is grateful for the unwavering dedication and sacrifice of our First Responders and their families. TOGETHER we will beat this!”
“America’s Private Sector is stepping up to help us be STRONG!” the president wrote in one of several tweets thanking various companies for stepping up to help their fellow Americans. In this case, Trump celebrated local distilleries temporarily converting their operations to produce hand sanitizer. “Many of the Nation’s distillers, large and small, are producing and donating hand sanitizer to help fight [COVID-19]. THANK YOU!”
“Today I spoke with our Nation’s Small Businesses, which employ nearly half of America’s workforce,” Trump wrote in response to his daughter Ivanka’s post praising small businesses and entrepreneurs. “We are taking the MOST aggressive action in history to deliver fast relief to your businesses and workers. We will always protect our Small Businesses!”
Ivanka wrote: “America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy. We are working hard with Congress and the country’s largest banks to deliver much needed relief – fast. Stay safe, healthy and supportive of one another! We are all in this together!”
Trump has also highlighted the crucial role the military is playing during the crisis, for example, retweeting a U.S. Navy post about the activation of hospital ships to alleviate the burden on medical facilities: “Doing our part as only the U.S. Navy can. #NavyReadiness #NavyCapability #USNavy Hospital Ships #USNSMercy and #USNSComfort, Other DOD Assets Prepare for #Coronavirus Response.”
Along with becoming the nation’s encourager-in-chief, Trump has been working with congressional leaders on relief packages, including a trillion-dollar relief bill that contains unprecedented economic relief measures, including sending checks to many Americans, providing some $500 billion in tax cuts and $300 billion in small business loans.
Related: Trump Signs ‘Families First’ Relief Bill Into Law: Here’s What That Could Mean For You
Trump’s tweets and retweets below (in chronological order):
…It cannot overcome the dedication of our doctors, nurses, and scientists — and it cannot beat the LOVE, PATRIOTISM, and DETERMINATION of our citizens. Strong and United, WE WILL PREVAIL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
Today I spoke with American physicians and nurses to thank them for their tireless work. Doctors and nurses are at the front lines of this war and are true American HEROES! With their help, America will WIN.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
STRONG & UNITED, WE WILL PREVAIL! pic.twitter.com/T6UCyaPRIy
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
We are going to WIN, sooner rather than later!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 19, 2020
THANK YOU! #ThankATrucker https://t.co/VgzJ2LXXpi
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 19, 2020
THANK YOU to our Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and EMS who help us defeat the Virus every day. Our proud nation is grateful for the unwavering dedication and sacrifice of our First Responders and their families. TOGETHER we will beat this!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 19, 2020
America’s Private Sector is stepping up to help us be STRONG! Many of the Nation’s distillers, large and small, are producing and donating hand sanitizer to help fight #COVID19. THANK YOU! https://t.co/bcjKA9Janw
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 19, 2020
Doing our part as only the U.S. Navy can. #NavyReadiness #NavyCapability #USNavy Hospital Ships #USNSMercy and #USNSComfort, Other DOD Assets Prepare for #Coronavirus Response. FULL STORY ⬇️ https://t.co/2yhPLR1HEJ
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) March 19, 2020
Today I spoke with our Nation’s Small Businesses, which employ nearly half of America’s workforce. We are taking the MOST aggressive action in history to deliver fast relief to your businesses and workers. We will always protect our Small Businesses! @SBAgov https://t.co/lf3y5iJ4hd
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 20, 2020