Trump mocked for coronavirus comment: Covid 19 a 'brilliant germ' that has outsmarted 'antibiotics'

"Fact check: Antibiotics have never worked against viruses," one person tweeted in response to Donald Trump's comments. Photo / Getty Images

US President Donald Trump has been mocked on social media for referring to the coronavirus as a "germ that has gotten so brilliant" it's even outsmarting antibiotics.

As most of us know, antibiotics are useless against any virus, let alone one as deadly and complex as the coronavirus, which has so far killed more than 18,700 Americans and infected at least half a million others.

But that didn't stop Trump from raving about the coronavirus' resistance to drugs used to treat bacterial, not viral, infections. A 35-second clip of the embarrassing comments has sparked ridicule online.

Trump: "Antibiotics used to solve every problem and now one of the biggest problems the world has is the germ has gotten to brilliant that the anti-antibiotic can't keep up with it." pic.twitter.com/FqYKdUEQmZ

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 10, 2020

"This is very complex, this is a brilliant enemy, you know this is a brilliant enemy," he told reporters at a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House on Friday.

"They develop drugs like the antibiotics … you see … antibiotics used to solve every problem. Now one of the biggest problems the world is the germ has gotten so brilliant that the antibiotic cannot keep up with it.

"And they're constantly trying to come up with a new … people go to the hospital and they catch … they go for a heart operation — that's no problem — but they end up dying from … from … problems.

"You know the problems I'm talking about."

Trump added: "There's a whole genius to it. It's hidden but it's very smart."

A video clip of the bizarre ramble has attracted more than three million views on Twitter in less than 24 hours and plenty of ridicule.

"Fact check: Antibiotics have *never* worked against viruses," tweeted Australian media expert Dr Belinda Barnet.

Fact check: Antibiotics have *never* worked against viruses.

— Belinda Barnet (@manjusrii) April 10, 2020

My 6 year old nephew knows that antibiotics are useless on ALL Viruses. Donald Trump does not! How can such a stupid man be our President? #TrumpIsStupid pic.twitter.com/wdMm0DJFgQ

— Mrs. Krassenstein (@HKrassenstein) April 10, 2020

Ms Krassenstein wrote: "My 6-year-old nephew knows that antibiotics are useless on ALL viruses. Donald Trump does not! How can such a stupid man be our President?"

Vaccines not Antibiotics fight viruses. It's called #coronavirus for a reason The audacity of #Trump propping his ignorance of medicine as authority will get Americas killed #TrumpVirus. #TrumpPressConference does more damage than good. The US & UK are screwed. https://t.co/TFEfDIqTB0

— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1) April 11, 2020

British lawyer and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu tweeted: "Vaccines not Antibiotics fight viruses.

"It's called #coronavirus for a reason. The audacity of Trump propping his ignorance of medicine as authority will get Americans killed #TrumpVirus. #TrumpPressConference does more damage than good. The US & UK are screwed."

Australian virologist Ian Mackay said simply: "Oh ffs!"

Oh ffs. https://t.co/rUOpS4kNv1

— ɪᴀɴ ᴍ. ᴍᴀᴄᴋᴀʏ, ᴘʜᴅ 🦠🤧🧬🥼🦟🧻 (@MackayIM) April 11, 2020

• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website