Trump Says ‘Herd Mentality’ Will Defeat COVID-19, Confusing Concept Of ‘Herd Immunity’

In a 90-minute town hall presented by ABC News on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump shared his doubts about the severity of an increase in COVID-19 cases in the United States. Trump claimed that a “herd mentality” would save Americans from the coronavirus, confusing the idea of “herd immunity,” which holds that once a large percentage of a population becomes infected then immunity starts to emerge.

Host George Stephanopoulos listened to Trump’s thoughts around a potential vaccine release. “It would go away without the vaccine… but it’s going to go away a lot faster with it,” Trump said, reiterating that “herd mentality” that is “herd developed” would eliminate the virus.  

Stephanopoulos moved on from the mistake and changed the subject to Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the White House’s leaders in its coronavirus task force, whom Trump has publicly disagreed with on multiple occasions. Fauci’s most recent concerns regarding coronavirus have been about the upcoming fall and winter seasons bringing cases of the flu and weaker immune systems.
Trump claimed that the country is “rounding the corner” in coronavirus cases. “As you know, Dr. Fauci disagrees with that,” Stephanopoulos responded.