Many of the high-profile figures who have been outspoken in supporting Trump in recent weeks, including UFC fighters Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, did not publicly react to the news in the hours following the announcement that sparked a frenzied reaction on social media.

Welterweight Masvidal had been due to take part in a day-long bus tour under the banner "fighters against socialism" with Trump in Florida this Saturday, and had spoken of his joy after the president praised him during a rally ahead of the scheduled presidential election next month.

Covington, who appeared in outfits branded with the Trump-supporting message "Keep America Great" in press conferences and met the president backstage at one of his rallies, had taken to Instagram to back the Republican candidate shortly before the news emerged.

"Nobody fights harder for America than [Trump]," he insisted, picturing himself sitting in the front row at this week's presidential debate between Trump and presidential rival Joe Biden.

There was cynicism among some stars. "Nah, I call bullsh*t," responded former Washington Redskins wide receiver Ryan Grant, adding his voice to those who believe that the news could be fake.

Brooklyn Nets guard Jamal Crawford warned that "we can't ignore science" and CJ McCollum, of the Portland Trail Blazers, said that the news had been a "reminder to keep wearing my mask" – a precaution against spreading the virus which Trump has frequently questioned.

"So much for a liberal hoax," one fan told McCollum, while hugely-followed race, politics and culture writer Michael Harriot was more explicit.