President Donald Trump on Saturday at the White House expressed his disappointment that China was dishonest and slow to alert the world about the seriousness of the coronavirus.
“I have great respect for China, I like China, I think the people of China are incredible. I have a tremendous relationship with President Xi. I wish they could have told us earlier about what was going on inside,” Trump said.
The president said that his federal doctors could have used the extra time to prepare for the virus.
“China was secretive OK?” Trump said. “Very, very secretive, and that’s unfortunate.”
Trump said that a two or three month jump on the virus would have been helpful.
Slack messages released by Rand Paul appear to show authors of key COVID-19 origin paper held private doubts
WATCH: Smithsonian director pressed on woke exhibits: ‘Is Mickey Mouse racist?’
FBI Director Kash Patel to Make Rare Trip to Russia: Report
Todd Blanche faces lingering GOP holdouts for attorney general post over ‘anti-weaponization fund’
Zelensky sacks Ukrainian Commander in Chief Syrsky in major military shake-up
Louisiana Democrat Cleo Fields abandons reelection bid for House seat
ICE Deports Alleged Cartel Hit Man Living in Texas, Was Wanted for Murder in Mexico
Woman attacked by brown bear while hiking with friend and 3 dogs near Alaska state park
Sharpton offers $50K for Nolan Wells case arrest with lawyer to release autopsy at NAACP
New York City Man Charged After He Allegedly Celebrated Knicks’ NBA Championship by Burning a School Bus
Top Virginia Dem dinged for on-air correction of state’s voter ID law; opponent demands answers
Poll: Roughly Half of Americans Say Supreme Court Rules on Trump Cases Purely on Personal Ideology
Newsom admin faces questions over $6.2M diaper contract after touting ‘competitive’ process
WATCH: Pelosi dodges questions on husband’s new hit-and-run charge
Top Trump official makes new SAVE Act case to Republicans behind closed doors
“They were having a big problem and they knew it, and I wish they could have given us an advance warning,” Trump said.
The president was questioned about his message on Twitter in January praising President Xi Jinping and his transparency.
China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020
Trump said that he felt that China was transparent at the time, but pointedly told reporters they did not escape unscathed from the virus.
Slack messages released by Rand Paul appear to show authors of key COVID-19 origin paper held private doubts
WATCH: Smithsonian director pressed on woke exhibits: ‘Is Mickey Mouse racist?’
FBI Director Kash Patel to Make Rare Trip to Russia: Report
Todd Blanche faces lingering GOP holdouts for attorney general post over ‘anti-weaponization fund’
Zelensky sacks Ukrainian Commander in Chief Syrsky in major military shake-up
Louisiana Democrat Cleo Fields abandons reelection bid for House seat
ICE Deports Alleged Cartel Hit Man Living in Texas, Was Wanted for Murder in Mexico
Woman attacked by brown bear while hiking with friend and 3 dogs near Alaska state park
Sharpton offers $50K for Nolan Wells case arrest with lawyer to release autopsy at NAACP
New York City Man Charged After He Allegedly Celebrated Knicks’ NBA Championship by Burning a School Bus
Top Virginia Dem dinged for on-air correction of state’s voter ID law; opponent demands answers
Poll: Roughly Half of Americans Say Supreme Court Rules on Trump Cases Purely on Personal Ideology
Newsom admin faces questions over $6.2M diaper contract after touting ‘competitive’ process
WATCH: Pelosi dodges questions on husband’s new hit-and-run charge
Top Trump official makes new SAVE Act case to Republicans behind closed doors
“China has lost thousands and thousands of people,” Trump said. “China has gone through hell over this. They’ve gone through hell.”
Trump repeated that President Xi was “a friend” but wishes they would have been more vocal about the problem.
“I just wished they could have told us earlier,” Trump said.
Trump has sent a mixed message on China, frequently praising President Xi’s efforts to battle the coronavirus, but also describing it as the “Chinese virus” to remind the American public that it originated in China.
On February 13, Trump praised Xi as “extremely capable” for handling the crisis but admitted that “they want to put the best face on it.”
“You wouldn’t want to run out to the world and go crazy and start saying whatever it is, because you don’t want to create a panic,” he said during an interview with Geraldo Rivera.
The president told reporters on Saturday that he first took the coronavirus threat more seriously when he announced the travel bans on China on January 31.
Story cited here.
