Chicago City Wire

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) recently criticized President Donald Trump via Twitter regarding the rising COVID-19 pandemic death toll, compelling one GOP chair to call the decorated, disabled combat veteran “pathetic.”

Last week, Duckworth  tweeted, “Donald Trump’s basic responsibility is to keep Americans safe. The rising death count shows that he’s failing. Instead of spending his time deflecting blame, he should start listening to Governors & giving them the supplies they need to fight the #COVID19 public health crisis.”

Some responded to her on Twitter for the remarks. @SecondCityCop wrote, “So tell us then Tammy, who is responsible for the murders of all the brown and black people on a daily basis in Illinois? Would it be @GovPritzker or @chicagosmayor?”

Many have suggested that Duckworth should not blame the president.

“Tammy Duckworth is pathetic,” said Chris Cleveland, chair of the Chicago GOP, in an email to the Chicago City Wire. “She blames the president for failing to send supplies that do not exist. Maybe she thinks they come from the supplies fairy?”

“Blaming the president for these deaths is beyond sick,” Cleveland said. “Tell me, Tammy, will the president get credit when the death rate goes down? No? Didn’t think so.”

On April 24 Duckworth also took another swipe at Trump for his leadership, and posted a video of herself interviewed on MSNBC.

“This is a tough country and we’re strong people. But you know what'd be really helpful?" Duckworth tweeted. "If we had real leadership at the White House to coordinate efforts like getting medical supplies out to states and implementing widespread testing. That’s not what we’re getting,” 

Three days later, Duckworth also said on Twitter that it is the Federal Government’s responsibility to help states in a national crisis. 

“This is a ridiculous statement from someone who is supposed to be the President of the UNITED States of America. We are in all in this together and it’s literally the Federal Government's job to help every state weather a national crisis,” she said.

That tweet was in response to Trump who asked, “Why should the people and taxpayers of America be bailing out poorly run states (like Illinois, as example) and cities, in all cases Democrat run and managed, when most of the other states are not looking for bailout help? I am open to discussing anything, but just asking?”

According to Cleveland, Duckworth is not taken seriously in the U.S. Senate.

“Tammy Duckworth is a do-nothing back-bencher who isn’t taken serious in the Senate,” said Cleveland.