Amid Global Coronavirus Pandemic, GOP Senator Shares Photo of Corona Beer, Tells People 'Don't Panic'

While the world continues to endure the devastating novel coronavirus pandemic, Republican Senator John Cornyn shared an optimistic tweet Saturday featuring a Corona beer to tell his followers "don't panic."
The Texas senator's tweet included a snapshot of a half-empty Corona beer bottle standing next to a small glass filled, presumably, with the Mexican beer with a slice of lime atop the glass. The caption read: "Be smart; don't panic. We will get us through this #coronavirus."
Be smart; don’t panic. We will get us through this #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/SyvOAWXItK
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) March 14, 2020
The seemingly innocuous tweet had received backlash from those on the other side of the political aisle. Celebrity chef and frequent critic of President Donald Trump, José Andrés, tweeted: "Senator John Cornyn you are disgrace to the great state of Texas....people are dying, people are scare[d], they don't need bad jokes, but smart policy, an empathy, and reassuring them that they will be tested, that wil[l] not be evicted from their homes."
Senator @JohnCornyn you are disgrace to the great state of Texas....people are dying, people are scare, they don’t need bad jokes, but smart policy, an empathy, and reassuring them that they will be tested, that wil not be evicted from their homes..... https://t.co/h28jiLIRSX
— Please wear a mask! Do it for the World please... (@chefjoseandres) March 15, 2020
MJ Hegar, Cornyn's Democratic opponent for his Senate seat, also took the opportunity to criticize the longtime senator, tweeting: "We're not panicking. We're expecting leadership. Taking a long weekend to kick back with a beer while the Senate neglects to pass crucial #COVIDー19 legislation is not it."
We're not panicking. We're expecting leadership. Taking a long weekend to kick back with a beer while the Senate neglects to pass crucial #COVIDー19 legislation is not it. https://t.co/NOqRGTpQCQ
— MJ Hegar (@mjhegar) March 15, 2020
Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii got into a back-and-forth with Cornyn over his tweet Saturday. He tweeted: "John when you are finished with that beer let's reconvene."
John when you are finished with that beer let’s reconvene. https://t.co/8kGsM15yvR
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) March 14, 2020
Cornyn tweeted back: "Let me know when you get back from Hawaii. #aloha"
Let me know when you get back from Hawaii. #aloha https://t.co/2vJ7RrRD5t
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) March 14, 2020
That prompted Schatz to tweet: "Snark aside, let's reconvene. Even if we reconvene Sunday briefly to file cloture on the House bill as a shell, we can expedite things. Or we could start doing unanimous consent requests and run hotlines. As you know better than me, this all takes time. We don't have time."
Snark aside, let’s reconvene. Even if we reconvene Sunday briefly to file cloture on the House bill as a shell, we can expedite things. Or we could start doing unanimous consent requests and run hotlines. As you know better than me, this all takes time. We don’t have time.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) March 14, 2020
Cornyn ended the exchange by tweeting: "Don't panic. We will get it done."
Don’t panic. We will get it done. https://t.co/L6llslu9P6
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) March 14, 2020
Cornyn and Schatz were referencing to the passage of a bill by the House of Representatives that will provide some relief to those affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Senate is expected to take up the bill when they reconvene Monday.
Newsweek reached out to Senator Cornyn's office, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
As of this publication, there are over 3,200 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. and 62 deaths as a result of the virus, according to the Johns Hopkins University dashboard tracking the spread of COVID-19. The number of confirmed cases worldwide is over 162,600 and the number of deaths is above 6,000.