The Chinese senior journalist reacted to the news with jeers, claiming that President Trump and the first lady are paying for the price for downplaying the coronavirus pandemic.

He wrote in a tweet this morning: ‘President Trump and the first lady have paid the price for his gamble to play down the COVID-19.

‘The news shows the severity of the US’ pandemic situation. It will impose a negative impact on the image of Trump and the US, and may also negatively affect his reelection,’ Hu said.