Democratic Denver City Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca faced conservative criticism Tuesday after sharing a meme on Twitter suggesting she stands in solidarity with the idea of spreading coronavirus at President Trumps campaign rallies. "These people are sick," Donald Trump Jr. tweeted.
CdeBaca commented: #solidarity Yaaaas!! with laughing emojis.
CdeBaca, based on her Twitter posts, appears to be a supporter of self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., one of the leading candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Republicans quickly hit back, coming amid a partisan war of words over allegations that lawmakers are politicizing the response to the coronavirus.
This elected Democrat in Colorado doesnt seem very nice! the Trump campaign War Room Twitter account posted in response.
The depths to which Democrats are sinking to politicize coronavirus is disgusting," Republican National Committee Rapid Response Director Steve Guest said in a statement to Fox News on Tuesday. "Democrat leaders, both nationally and in Colorado, need to condemn this deranged comment.
Later, CdeBaca's office called it a "sarcastic tweet," in a statement to a Denver ABC affiliate.
The back and forth comes as the federal government grapples with the outbreak. Trump, over the weekend, authorized new travel restrictions and warnings in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The administrations strict travel warning affects Iran, Italy and South Korea at this point.
The virus has sickened 89,000 people across 66 countries, resulting in at least 3,061 deaths, including six in the U.S. Most of the deaths have occurred in mainland China.
Trump, on Monday, was asked whether it was safe for him to continue to hold his campaign-style rallies as the country battles the virus.
You should ask the Democrats, Trump said. Theyre all having rallies. Theyre campaigning.
He added: I think its very safe.