This is one of my favorite Trump stories. Mainly because it shows his lack of knowledge—and curiosity (Google it)—when it comes to a condition that is extremely common.
I wrote a satirical piece about this where I mocked Trump for saying that Kamala Harris has a “terminal illness.” He didn’t go that far, though.
What he actually said in his late-night social media rant was that she had a “dangerous” and “messy” condition that would impact her ability to do the job of President.
She has allergies.
So do a lot of people.
Donald Trump saw the medical terminology for runny nose and irritated eyes caused by allergies and instead of looking up what they meant, he took to social media to scare his base.
He either really didn’t know what the terms meant, or he counted on his supporters not knowing so he could fearmonger using the “scary words.”
Allergic rhinitis is inflammation of the lining of the nose caused by allergies, or “runny nose,” and allergic conjunctivitis, is inflammation of the tissue around the eye (conjunctiva). To put it even more simply: red, irritated eyes caused by allergies.
In fairness to Trump, if you don’t have a background in medical terminology, “rhinitis” and “conjunctivitis” do sound serious. 😁 Most benign conditions sound terrifying if you look at the official terminology.