Gov. Phil Murphy's war against the coronavirus is complicated by another menace that has infected the body politic: warped conspiracy theories.

"There are some people out there who think this is 'fake news' and our friends the Russians are feeding this notion,'' Murphy said at a news conference Monday. "This is not fake news. This is real."

Murphy didn't specify what form of reckless crackpotism he was most concerned about. There is the dismissive downplaying of President Donald Trump's Fox News allies, some of whom have gone as far to suggest that the virus was hatched by the Chinese to destroy Trump's reelection prospects.

Others, like radio host Rush Limbaugh, falsely equated COVID-19 with just another seasonal flu.

Then there are reports of Russian and Iranian propaganda agencies spreading false rumors that the United States is weaponizing the crisis for political gain. And then there is Trump himself, who early on suggested that Democrats were overhyping the crisis for political gain. Another Democratic "hoax,'' he said at one rally.

In one form or the other, it's all "fake news" that has put lives in danger. It feeds the casual skepticism that prompted twenty-somethings to go bar-hopping in Asbury Park last weekend — something the governor complained about.

"Stop believing folks who are saying this isn’t real,'' Murphy said.

Trump has been known to traffic in right-wing conspiracy theories, and his "fake news" broadsides have helped shore up his loyal, hard-right base. But the fringe theorizing and attacks have also sown deep distrust in government and in the very "deep state" institutions that the nation is now depending upon in its time of peril.

While a recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that seven out of 10 U.S. residents are now concerned about the coronavirus — a marked jump from the month before — a growing number believe that the crisis is being blown out of proportion.

In February, a little more than a quarter of respondents registered that level of skepticism. That has grown to 40%.

Further complicating matters is that the skepticism is breaking down along party lines. Increasing numbers of Republicans and independents doubt the coronavirus danger while more Democrats are now believing the danger is real.

"Since the pandemic has taken root and grown in the United States, Democrats and Republicans are now poles apart," said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute of Public Opinion. "The consequences of these differing perspectives are shaping how people are responding to calls for action."

That kind of tribal, partisan divide threatens to undermine efforts by Murphy and others who are now forced to lead, protect and console a wider population that is coming to terms with a virus that does not discriminate by age, status or partisan loyalty.

"We'll get through this as one New Jersey family, stronger,'' Murphy said, using his often-repeated appeal that transcends party lines.

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The rapidly evolving events that have shut down the nation over the past few days — and possibly for months to come — has forced Trump to take the disease more seriously.

It has forced him to ditch the dismissive tone, the rosy forecasts and the false claims of shutting down the virus. He appears less inclined to take his talking points from right-wing skeptics, who have also sharply changed their tune in recent days.

"It's bad. It's bad," Trump said Monday as he unveiled a 15-day plan to try to halt the spread of new infections to avert a feared surge of sick patients that could overwhelm the health system.

Murphy, whose administration has repeatedly condemned the Trump administration on a number of policy fronts, has been careful not to publicly scold Trump over his messaging or his policies. Murphy, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany, remained cordial with Trump in a conference call with U.S. governors on Monday.

Murphy requested more assistance for protective gear for health care workers and thanked Trump for choosing New Jersey as one of 12 states for drive-up testing sites financed by the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

If anything, they were on the same page for a moment. Whether Trump will continue speaking in a voice untainted by conspiracy theories or suspicion remains to be seen.

Trump is often guided by his own hunches. And his early hunch on the crisis was that it was no big deal.

Murphy, though, stuck to his message on Tuesday.

"Trust us, this is real,'' he said.

Charlie Stile is New Jersey’s preeminent political columnist. For unlimited access to his unique insights into New Jersey’s political power structure and his powerful watchdog work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: stile@northjersey.com Twitter: @politicalstile