Snopes Debunker - Did President Trump Refer to the Coronavirus as a ‘Hoax’ in February?

Did President Trump Refer to the Coronavirus as a ‘Hoax’ in February? ​ When U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted late Thursday night that he and Melania had contracted COVID-19, social media exploded with activity. The reactions ran the gamut from sympathy to amusement, with many asking one question: “Didn’t he call COVID-19 a hoax?” The statement in question, made by Trump at a February rally in South Carolina, was difficult to parse. Fortunately, Snopes reporter Bethania Palma was up to the task. Read More Fact Checks Were ‘Doomsday Planes’ Mobilized After Trump’s COVID-19 Diagnosis? Rumors took off when a scheduled launch of two "doomsday planes" seemed to coincide with the announcement of the president's diagnosis. ❌ Mostly False Is Amy Coney Barrett a Rhodes Scholar? A "Rhodes Scholar" is someone who received a prestigious scholarship, not someone who attended Rhodes College. ❌ False Did Trump Campaign Send Fundraising Emails With the Date ‘September 31st’? The emails were sent on the day after September 30, so we can see where the confusion arose. ✅ True Did McConnell Refuse To Participate in Debate With Female Moderators? The Senate majority leader and his Democratic challenger Amy McGrath have sparred over details of debates in Kentucky's 2020 Senate race. ❌ False No, Biden Didn’t Wear a ‘Wire’ or ‘Smart’ Contact Lenses During 1st Debate Conspiracy theories about high-tech devices rocketed across social media after the first presidential debate of 2020. ❌ False View Latest Fact Checks Support the Truth When readers become members, Snopes is stronger.  Contribute Today News In Rare Move, Breonna Taylor Grand Jury Proceedings Released Hours of grand jury proceedings were made public in the case of Breonna Taylor’s fatal shooting by police, a rare release of such material. Read More Trump’s Age, Health Woes Raise His Risk for COVID-19 Illness President Donald Trump has several strikes against him — age, obesity, elevated cholesterol and being male — that could put him at greater risk of becoming seriously ill from the coronavirus infection. Read More Texas Governor Restricts Mail-In Ballot Drop-Off Locations Abbott called his order a move to enhance poll security, while Democrats blasted it as a naked effort to suppress voters. Read More Top Trump Aide Hope Hicks Tests Positive for Coronavirus Hicks is the closest aide to Trump to test positive so far. Read More Trump Adds to Election Anxiety by Pushing Legal Boundaries In ways large and small, in multiple corners of the government, the president has demonstrated a willingness to push the boundaries of federal law, if not outright flout them. Read More

View Latest News The Election is Already Underway Early voting is already possible, and an unprecedented number of Americans have already voted in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Voting by mail is still the safest way. Our guide has the information you need. Read the Guide  Staff Pick​ Did Supreme Court Nominee Barrett Say Women Shouldn’t Own Property? Amy Coney Barrett, a Catholic, is also affiliated with People of Praise, a "charismatic Christian community” whose teachings include women being subordinate to their husbands. Read More