Trump's Coronavirus Rhetoric Has Some Supporters Unworried, Claiming It Doesn't Exist

It seems that President Donald Trump s claims that Democrats are politicising the deadly coronavirus spreading around the world and that criticism of his administration is their new hoax are resonating with many of his supporters.

A handful of attendees at Trumps campaign rally on Monday night in North Carolina told NBC News reporter Monica Alba they werent worried about the illness that has sickened at least 80,000 worldwide and killed about 3,000. Others said they doubted the novel coronavirus even exists.

A person who was very pleased with Trumps handling of the outbreak echoed the presidents claim that the media is inciting fear and panic. Another said she doesnt trust anything the Democrats do or say, another of Trumps contentions about the virus.

Trump and his White House have repeatedly downplayed the threat of the illness, called COVID-19. But the president himself has gone even further, suggesting it shouldnt be taken seriously.

During a South Carolina rally over the weekend, Trump told the crowd: Now the Democrats are politicising the coronavirus. They have no clue, they cant even count their votes in Iowa. He likened Democrats criticism to his impeachment, saying this is their new hoax.

.@realDonaldTrump has a rally in North Carolina tonight before voters hit the polls tomorrow on Super Tuesday.

WATCH: @albamonica met one supporter who doesn't believe #coronavirus exists.

Watch NOW: https://t.co/U4UZMHn7bF pic.twitter.com/2YBGEbDy2S

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.@realDonaldTrump has a rally in North Carolina tonight before voters hit the polls tomorrow on Super Tuesday.

WATCH: @albamonica met one supporter who doesn't believe #coronavirus exists.

Watch NOW: https://t.co/U4UZMHn7bF pic.twitter.com/2YBGEbDy2S
NBC News NOW (@NBCNewsNow) March 3, 2020

Not everyone in Trumps North Carolina crowd accepted the presidents assurances. Some told Alba they had second thoughts about attending because of the virus.

The Trump administration has been widely criticized for spinning the sickness as a partisan issue . The U.S. has at least 102 confirmed coronavirus cases, and six patients have died.

Trump also has shown questionable leadership with false information. He promised on Monday that very exciting things are happening rapidly in preparing for an outbreak and cited a possible quick vaccine .

A top government expert on Trumps COVID-19 task force quickly contradicted that, saying a vaccine may be ready in 18 months .

Infectious disease expert Matt McCarthy, a Manhattan hospital physician, said on Monday nights CNBCs Squawk Box that hes had to plead for COVID-19 testing for patients because of a federal government logjam.

There are going to be hundreds by the middle of the week; theres going to be thousands by next week, said McCarthy. And this is a testing issue.

McCarthy also cautioned people to not believe the false reassurances coming from the Trump administration.