Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor of Texas, says older Americans should risk being infected by the coronavirus in order for the United States to escape a possible economic collapse.
Patrick's comments came in an interview Monday night with Fox News' Tucker Carlson.
Patrick, a Republican, said: "You know, Tucker, no one reached out to me and said, 'As a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?' And if that's the exchange, I'm all in.
"That doesn't make me noble or brave or anything like that. I just think there are lots of grandparents out there in this country like me. I have six grandchildren. What we all care about more, and what we love more than anything are those children.
"Yes, if I get sick. I'll go and try to get better, but if I don't, I don't. I'm not trying to think of any kind of morbid way, Tucker. I'm just saying that we've got a choice here."
Patrick will turn 70 next week.
There was immediate backlash against his comments.
Among those offering critical comments was former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke, who tweeted: "This kind of numbnuttery will kill people in Texas."
Meanwhile, CNN noted that Patrick's comments contradict recommendations by government agencies and public health experts. The CDC reported that eight in 10 coronavirus deaths in the U.S. are among adults 65 and older.