He didn't downplay the Covid19 threat.

[chriscan64]

69. Whether he did or did not say explicitly

that the virus itself is a hoax, the impression was made clearly enough that some of us remember it that way, including myself. Sometimes he lies straight out, other times like this he dances around the lie giving it shape without actually mouthing the words. We don't have him on video saying "Black people will move into the suburbs", but the use of "low income housing" in proximity to discussions about protests lets supporters and opponents know what he means.

Another example is the "20 names for the virus" bullshit he used at the Tulsa rally and other speeches around that time. He did not actually say the virus wasn't real, but the dismissive tone left no doubt about the implication. I have Trump supporting cousins and old friends that don't know each other, but were clear about the message: we don't need masks, open the economy now, go back to school, etc.

What do we know? We have him on tape in early February understanding the seriousness, in March saying he is playing down the seriousness in public, and numerous videos of him playing it down in direct and indirect ways.