Donald Trump’s son is one of those who took offense at the presence of the young Swedish girl on the air.
Although the coronavirus currently prevents Greta Thunberg from demonstrating on the streets, it does not prevent the Swede from campaigning online against global warming. The teenager had thus pleaded during the month of March for “digital strikes”, inviting young people to respect health rules while continuing to support their cause. Greta Thunberg also spoke on videoconference this Thursday, May 14, during a CNN broadcast. Invited “alongside” American doctors, the girl participated in a debate on the coronavirus crisis.
Experts such as Richard Besser, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta made their views known throughout the evening.
The presence of Greta Thunberg on the air, however, aroused the indignation of some Internet users. Donald Trump’s son (who has never hidden his hostility towards the teenager) himself expressed his dismay on Twitter. “Greta Thunberg already has a remarkable career as she is now a globally recognized specialist in infectious diseases, and an epidemiologist AND the voice of scientists on climate policy, ironically commented Donald Trump Jr on the social network to the blue bird Wow, this is so impressive. ”
If many wondered why the young activist participated in this debate bringing together doctors and other experts of the coronavirus, others have, on the contrary, affirmed that the Swedish did indeed have her place on CNN. “She has incredible knowledge and represents the new generation who must clean up the mess we left behind,” said actress Rosanna Arquette. “They wouldn’t have invited her if she didn’t have a strong voice.” What is more, as Internet users have pointed out, it is not only experts who are invited to these debates, who have already brought together, alongside doctors, writers or chefs. The presenter of the program also deemed the controversy surrounding the activist “absurd”, believing that it was a “surreal drama”.
Faced with the growing controversy, Greta Thunberg explained herself on Twitter. “I am not an expert. I am an activist. The only people claiming to be an “expert” are those who want to ridicule me. My message has always been to be united behind the scientists and to listen to the experts, ”wrote the young Swedish woman, insisting that she was not part of a panel of experts.
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