2018 WSOP Main Event champ John Cynn has put a $5k price-tag on the head of Donald Trump for any reporter brave enough to call him out for his racist coronavirus language…
Coronavirus to be renamed?
$5000 to first reporter to ask him this question on national tv https://t.co/TqCRWAVJ9f
— John Cynn (@john_cynn) March 18, 2020
Cynn, who lifted the $8.8million ultimate poker first prize a couple of years back, picked up on Rounders’ co-screenwriter Brian Koppelman’s plea to turn the tables on Donald Trump.
With vast swathes of the world doing their best to coordinate efforts to defeat the novel coronavirus, US President Trump has angered many with his “Chinese virus” comments in recent days.
Different takes in the poker community
The poker community, like every other it seems, has been split in half over recent years – between the populist rhetoric of Trump and calls for a more level-headed approach to the nation – and the world’s – social and economic problems.
Mike ‘The Mouth’ Matusow has been among those tweeting and re-tweeting pro-Trump messages, and this week’s shocking finger-pointing at China gave him ammunition.
Now that it's so important to protect our borders is it still racist for a wall on southern border?
— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) March 19, 2020
Canadian poker legend Daniel Negreanu, on the other hand, has been as anti-Trump as can be, even taking out citizenship so he could vote against the businessman-turned-politician.
His response to Matusow’s ugly poll blended humour with a serious though sarcastic point that the virus simply doesn’t respect borders, regardless of where it first originated…
Mexico and Canada should build a wall for sure. To protect themselves from people coming in from the Florida and the rest of the US.
They aren’t sending their best… pic.twitter.com/1XP8ptC667
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) March 19, 2020
YouTube poker vlogger Johnnie JohnnieVibes Moreno jumped into the ensuing argument on the side of Negreanu, slagging the 45th resident of the White House for his constantly tune-changing response to the virus.
Trump might be making true on his promise for Mexico to build a wall. Since he royally fucked up this pandemic México might be scrambling to keep Americans out. 👌🏼
— Johnnie VIBΞS (@JohnnieVibes) March 19, 2020
The Twitterverse is, of course, where most of the poker-related coronavirus discussions are taking place – whether it be the shutdown of live events, calls for online poker to be legalised while the coronavirus rages, or the personal tragedies that the corona-related Covid-19 disease has caused.
Doug Polk and the Trump Virus
Doug Polk, who this week released his final poker video, was never going to miss out on this kind of juicy story, dedicating a vlog to the Trump Virus…
I just posted a video that is going to make diehard Trumpers very, very angry. https://t.co/rtXACnFZS6
I'm excited to read the comments.
— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) March 13, 2020
…and as he predicted, the replies soon flowed in from both sides of the great Trump debate…
How excited would you be if your video was actually that edgy you pushed all the poker players away that supported him from Upswing Poker? Seems like a foolish business decision and immature
— deuces (@Degenaments) March 13, 2020
Doug, these people would RATHER DIE than admit that Trump was wrong. I am not even kidding. Not even 1% joking. They would rather die than be wrong
— Machiavelli999 (@RomanP11) March 13, 2020
Naturally, there were those who quickly turned Trump’s public appearances and statements into meme-worthy poker jokes….
I wouldn't want to play poker with the people who stand behind Trump at press briefings. No tells. None. https://t.co/H9XFTXPbpd
— Dan Szematowicz (@avidindoorsman) March 19, 2020
So I personally dont think Trump ever won a debate, I dont think he can. I think he got so popular just by being a loudmouth everywhere. We are worried about who can better debate Trump, but its like saying we will beat him at Poker while everyone is watching him play Solitaire. pic.twitter.com/MbwregzZcW
— Adam Kujawa (@Kujman5000) March 12, 2020
Highrolling poker billionaire Bill Perkins found some humour in the constant stream of ‘Trumpisms’ doing the rounds…
I need to do this and report back 100 percent of respondents said I'm very good or better…… https://t.co/3sOpBEMDuY
— Bill Perkins (Guy) (@bp22) March 19, 2020
…while the Poker Brat, Phil Hellmuth, probably took his ‘positivity’ outlook a bit far by retweeting one of the few scientists going against the grain of informed opinion…
Stanford Professor: Data Indicates We’re Severely Overreacting To Coronavirus | The Daily Wire https://t.co/vwDEnKl5Sn
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) March 19, 2020
Of course, there is real poker going on out there somewhere, and the Phil Galfond PLO Challenge is as good a place as any to escape the coronavirus and Trump.
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