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.
Hochul reveals which election result would make her job ‘a lot easier’ — and it’s not her own
DOJ fires back at Dem AG over Election Day guidance telling officials when to call cops on federal agents
Breaking: Evidence Indicates Democrats Intentionally ‘Stacked’ the Ballot in Key Senate Race
How House Democrats revamped their college outreach in a bid to win back youth voters
Former Federal Immigration Judge Has Tough News for ‘Ilhan Omar’ – A Statute of Limitations Won’t Save Her
Rubio called back to the campaign trail after Texas visit
Husband arrested in wife’s disappearance after family kept getting mystery texts
Mystery woman arrested in American’s death after manhunt in Costa Rican tourist destination
Trump’s unusual legal gambit against Biden-era deportation rule pays off at Supreme Court
Mike Collins drops Election Day gas price prediction in heated Georgia Senate race
Watch: Dramatic Extra-Innings Comeback Extends World Series
RINO Lisa Murkowski Crosses Party Lines to Endorse Democrat for Alaska Governor
Voters who helped Trump win in Michigan are having second thoughts
At least 30 dead in crash between 2 trains in central Spain
Major companies abandon SPLC’s ‘hate groups’ screening tool in corporate giving programs
“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.
Hochul reveals which election result would make her job ‘a lot easier’ — and it’s not her own
DOJ fires back at Dem AG over Election Day guidance telling officials when to call cops on federal agents
Breaking: Evidence Indicates Democrats Intentionally ‘Stacked’ the Ballot in Key Senate Race
How House Democrats revamped their college outreach in a bid to win back youth voters
Former Federal Immigration Judge Has Tough News for ‘Ilhan Omar’ – A Statute of Limitations Won’t Save Her
Rubio called back to the campaign trail after Texas visit
Husband arrested in wife’s disappearance after family kept getting mystery texts
Mystery woman arrested in American’s death after manhunt in Costa Rican tourist destination
Trump’s unusual legal gambit against Biden-era deportation rule pays off at Supreme Court
Mike Collins drops Election Day gas price prediction in heated Georgia Senate race
Watch: Dramatic Extra-Innings Comeback Extends World Series
RINO Lisa Murkowski Crosses Party Lines to Endorse Democrat for Alaska Governor
Voters who helped Trump win in Michigan are having second thoughts
At least 30 dead in crash between 2 trains in central Spain
Major companies abandon SPLC’s ‘hate groups’ screening tool in corporate giving programs
“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.
