As the coronavirus continues its tear around the globe, with some U.S. states issuing “stay-at-home” or “shelter-in-place” orders, some in conservative media are arguing that preserving the economy is a top priority -- even if it means risking the spread of the virus. Recent comments made by President Donald Trump suggest he may be responding to these cues, as his administration reportedly prepares to prioritize the economy over stopping the virus.

Public health experts continue to argue that, if anything, the U.S. isn’t doing enough to contain the spread of coronavirus. Experts are worried that the trajectory of the fast-spreading virus could lead to a much more dire economic situation -- and thousands of deaths -- if it is not contained.

Still, some in conservative media are beginning to panic about the state of the economy -- the bedrock of Trump’s reelection strategy. Some have started arguing that the risks of hurting the economy outweigh any risk related to coronavirus, even if it means people will die. Others have complained that public health experts are writing economic policy by supporting efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

These arguments come after weeks of Fox News and right-wing media irresponsibly downplaying the threat of coronavirus, likely leading to Trump failing to take the virus seriously during initial weeks that were vital to curbing the spread. Now, conservative media again appear to be influencing Trump, as he and his administration have reportedly signaled that they plan to prioritize saving the economy over potentially saving lives. Trump tweeted that “we cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself” and appeared to suggest, through a series of retweets of random Twitter users, that he wants to “isolate the high-risk groups” after 15 days and allow everyone else to begin working normally, violating the recommendation of public health experts.

Of course there are valid concerns about slowing down the economy, particularly in terms of the impact on workers, and these can be partially alleviated through competent fiscal policy solutions that don’t endanger civilians, such as providing paid sick leave and small business loans. And the economy will not function seamlessly if coronavirus continues to spread uncontrolled, regardless of when isolation measures are lifted. But reasonable protections are not the focus in pro-Trump media -- instead they're dangerously suggesting that we ignore the advice of public health experts to prioritize the economy, and some have a direct line right to the president.

Here are just some of the most notable examples of conservative media pushing this negligent narrative: