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.
The battle for Congress is just the beginning. Here’s what’s at stake on Election Day
Ex-Chicago FBI chief sues DOJ, claims he was ousted over failed anti-ICE prosecutions
Mamdani threatens to sue Trump admin over ICE’s use of city-owned lots for immigration enforcement
Democrats rally around el Sayed after Stevens defection in final hours of campaign
‘Ilhan Omar’ May Have Already Compromised National Security, Foreign Affairs Committee Members Say
Ex-West Point cadet sued for secretly drugging pregnant girlfriend with abortion pills
JD Vance says Haley Stevens’ endorsement of GOP’s Mike Rogers will ‘certainly’ help Michigan Senate race
How a midterm tie gets settled in the case of the Senate
Judge Boasberg orders DOJ to stop demanding California officials set aside 20,000 ballots
Fed. Judge Suspended for Psychiatric Eval After Anti-White Outburst in Court Leads to Astoundingly Racist Quotes
Michigan County Stonewalls Reporter’s Attempt to Expose What El-Sayed Had to Say About Oct. 7
Illegal Alien Arrested for Rape After Being Released by Dem-Appointed Judge
EXCLUSIVE: Woman allegedly raped by illegal alien after Clinton-appointed federal judge ordered his release
Haley Stevens’s Mike Rogers endorsement stuns black voters in Michigan
Watch: Democratic Governor Swats Reporter’s Camera After Being Asked Uncomfortable Question
“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.
The battle for Congress is just the beginning. Here’s what’s at stake on Election Day
Ex-Chicago FBI chief sues DOJ, claims he was ousted over failed anti-ICE prosecutions
Mamdani threatens to sue Trump admin over ICE’s use of city-owned lots for immigration enforcement
Democrats rally around el Sayed after Stevens defection in final hours of campaign
‘Ilhan Omar’ May Have Already Compromised National Security, Foreign Affairs Committee Members Say
Ex-West Point cadet sued for secretly drugging pregnant girlfriend with abortion pills
JD Vance says Haley Stevens’ endorsement of GOP’s Mike Rogers will ‘certainly’ help Michigan Senate race
How a midterm tie gets settled in the case of the Senate
Judge Boasberg orders DOJ to stop demanding California officials set aside 20,000 ballots
Fed. Judge Suspended for Psychiatric Eval After Anti-White Outburst in Court Leads to Astoundingly Racist Quotes
Michigan County Stonewalls Reporter’s Attempt to Expose What El-Sayed Had to Say About Oct. 7
Illegal Alien Arrested for Rape After Being Released by Dem-Appointed Judge
EXCLUSIVE: Woman allegedly raped by illegal alien after Clinton-appointed federal judge ordered his release
Haley Stevens’s Mike Rogers endorsement stuns black voters in Michigan
Watch: Democratic Governor Swats Reporter’s Camera After Being Asked Uncomfortable Question
“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.
