Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Trump Meets Mexico and Canada Leaders After 2026 World Cup Draw Amid USMCA Tensions 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Trump Urges Hall of Fame Induction for Roger Clemens Amid Renewed Debate 
Zelenskiy Describes “Substantive” Call With Trump Envoys as Ukraine, U.S. Explore Peace Path 
Qatari PM Says Gaza Truce Negotiations Reach “Critical Moment” as Mediators Push for Lasting Ceasefire 
Hong Kong Elections Proceed as Voter Turnout Scrutinized Amid Public Anger Over Deadly Fire 
U.S. and Rwanda Sign $228 Million Health Partnership to Boost Self-Reliance 
Trump’s New U.S. Strategy Seeks to Deter China and Protect Taiwan 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Honduras Awaits Final Election Results as Asfura Holds Slim Lead Amid U.S. Attention 
Cuba Quietly Signals Openness to Post-Maduro Venezuela as U.S. Pressure Intensifies 
Southwest Airlines Has $11 Million Fine Waived as USDOT Cites Operational Improvements 
Escalating Conflict in Eastern Congo Despite U.S.-Brokered Peace Efforts 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Despite the rise in coronavirus cases in the United States, the Trump administration has continuously tried to downplay the severity of the global pandemic. As if the administration has not received enough criticism, one of Trump’s latest tweets has made even more people furious.
Trump spent the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, and as he is known for being quite present on social media, he took to Twitter to quote tweet White House social media director Dan Scavino’s tweet of a photo of Trump playing the violin. The caption on the photo read “My next piece is called Nothing Can Stop What’s Coming” with which Trump tweeted, “Who knows what this means, but sounds good to me!” as his caption.
Although it may have been perceived as a cool image or meme, many prominent figures were quick to call Trump and Scavino out for that. The image is referencing the saying “Fiddle while Rome burns” which is also a reference to the Roman emperor Nero, who was said to have been playing the violin while Rome was being destroyed by a fire.
Among those figures who called Trump out for sharing this photo was former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi, who responded to his caption saying, “It means that playing golf while Americans die during an uncontained epidemic makes you look like Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burned. The fact that neither you nor your social media director understand this meme and retweeted it makes you even more oblivious than Nero.”
Former Office of Government Ethics Director Walter Shaub also echoed Figliuzzi’s response. “The president, who’s goofing off at his golf resort as his administration’s train wreck of a pandemic response goes from bad to worse, retweets an image posted by HIS OWN social media director that’s reminiscent of Nero fiddling as Rome burned. Because neither has heard of Nero,” tweeted Shaub.
Meanwhile, Trump is still actively campaigning for his reelection in November and due to the coronavirus outbreak, Politico reports that First Lady Melania Trump has decided to cancel the upcoming fundraiser in Beverly Hills that was to take place on March 18th. According to White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, scheduling conflicts have prompted Melania to decide not to push through with the fundraiser for her husband’s campaign.
