WISCONSIN — After the President and First Lady’s positive COVID-19 diagnosis overnight, early voters hope this is a wake-up call to the entire United States to start taking the pandemic seriously.
“I’m sorry to hear it happened,” Sandy Harris of Waukesha said. “But I can understand why.”
President Trump won Waukesha County in 2016 by more than 30,000 votes. However, Harris was not shy about her support for the opposition.
She doesn’t wish any ill will towards the president but hopes those who did not believe in the severity of the pandemic
“I’m sorry to hear it but you have to follow the guidelines,” Harris said. “You have to listen to the scientists.”
It’s a sentiment shared by a number of early voters across the area.
"I hope he’s doing OK,” Tony Martinez of Waukesha said. “But, people got to take this seriously.
"I am scared,” Carol Putz of Waukesha said. “I am scared. When I heard the news, oh my heart just dropped. I hope he has a fast recovery.”
In addition to wishing a speedy recovery, some voters say this news is ironic.
“Maybe he’ll take it more seriously about wearing masks,” Kathy Thresher of Menomonee Falls said.
Thresher made no mistake about her feelings on the president’s health; she hopes he recovers quickly and does not have any lingering effects. However, she found it hard to find sympathy after she says he has downplayed the virus.
“I don’t feel they took the necessary precautions,” Thresher said. “Now, he’ll suffer the consequences. Hopefully, it won’t be too bad for him.”
“You don’t wish anybody to be sick,” Jerry Taylor of Wauwatosa said. “But, if you’re stupid, things happen.”
“It couldn’t have happened to a better person,” Vanessa Rembert of Wauwatosa said. “What has he said? It doesn’t really impact people or something to that effect? Maybe now, he’s a believer.”
“He’s the one saying, don’t wear a mask,” Mary Janusz of Menomonee Falls said. “Or, ‘I wear it when I think I need it.’ We do need it. Look, you got it on. I got it on. We do need them. It’s not just protecting us. It’s protecting others.”
Everyone interviewed in this story made comments before the president was transferred to Walter Reed Medical Center Friday evening.