New York (AFP)

"Do you still think it's a + Democrats hoax +?": On Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or TikTok, Internet users blithely recalled Friday the disdainful remarks of the American president in the face of the disease which now affects him.

The expressions of sympathy and prayers were also pouring in.

Even MSNBC presenter Rachel Maddow, who harshly criticizes Donald Trump every night, called on believers to pray for "a speedy and full recovery" for the president and his wife.

"This virus is horrible and ruthless - you can't wish it on anyone," she wrote on Twitter.

On Facebook, where Donald Trump has more than 31 million subscribers, a surfer assured "to pray that our lord places our president and his kind family under his protective seal and protects them from all evil forces".

Another user complained: "Why are you quarantining yourself? YOU said it was a hoax."

The news has in any case widely circulated: Donald Trump's tweet announcing that he and his wife Melania have tested positive for Covid-19 breaks audience records with nearly a million and a half likes and more than 800,000 retweets .

This is by far, at least out of the last 600, his most "liked" and shared tweet, according to TruthNest, a site specializing in statistics on Twitter.

- Karma -

Actress Padma Lakshmi is among those who relayed the president's message, simply accompanying it with the word "karma" and then repeating the phrase Mr. Trump himself used to comment on the death toll linked to the pandemic: "C'est comme ca" ("it is what it is").

Several "TikToker" celebrated the news with a little dance or reposted the video of Donald Trump mocking, during the recent presidential debate, his opponent Joe Biden because he regularly wears "the biggest mask I have ever seen".

On the account @saintswante, two young women all smiles resumed, in front of a television banner announcing the positive test of the president, a song of the musical "Chicago" with the words: "He looked for it well, he cannot to blame himself ".

More acerbic, @iamKimRL wrote on Twitter: "It looks like RGB (the recently deceased popular progressive Supreme Court judge, Editor's note) has successfully argued her first case before God."

Actress and activist Sophia Bush shared on social media: "Do you still think this is a 'Democrats' hoax? Are you going to make fun of people who wear masks again? Are you sorry you lied to Americans? During months?"

"Ah NOW it's called the Covid, ok", reacted @SuzyNakamura by retweeting the message from the president who very often does not speak of the Covid-19 but of the "Chinese virus".

Several memes were also circulating on the internet showing the president drinking bleach, an allusion to a press conference where he seemed to be considering the possibility of treating Covid-19 by injecting disinfectant.

Others scoffed at the White House tenant's propensity to boast of being the best at everything.

Mimicking the president's gestures and voice on TikTok, account holder @thereal_nrp had fun: "We're going to quarantine like nobody's done before."

Some wonder about the rest.

Dressed in a Superman T-shirt, @patrickloller does not see much to celebrate: "if he survives he is going to be unbearable, and if he dies (...) then he will pass for a martyr and, oh no, (vice president) Pence isn't much better. "

Actress Alyssa Milano, who herself contracted the virus in the spring and said on Twitter to still suffer from it, simply recalled the principles of precaution.

"I can honestly say that I wouldn't wish this virus on my worst enemy. Please wear a mask."

© 2020 AFP