It is another example of performative cruelty...

Thousands died- in large part due to his administration's incompetence- this makes him look bad... rather than address this in a healthy way, he turns around and makes THEM the bad guys, THEY are the bad OTHERS that brought this upon themselves.

THEY had it coming... and under no circumstances should we be weak and show them compassion, nor should we feel empathy for them- because if his supporters did that (if they were even capable of doing that) then they might resent what Trump did to them...

This is what our nation is becoming, THIS is how cruel fascism takes root in a people.