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.
DOJ Signals Probe Into Brutal Assault of Conservative Journalist Filming Anti-ICE Riot
Far-left Senate hopeful’s radical ties to ‘Maduro cronies’ could torpedo campaign: ‘Tired of the chaos’
Push to oust Trump exposes cracks among Democrats on strategy, timing
George Conway Chokes Back Tears Talking About Blowing Nearly $1M on Joe Biden
Mike Johnson raises $500,000 to fight Spanberger’s gerrymandering push in Virginia
State by state: Here’s where ICE has made the most arrests under Trump
Ranking the 2028 Democratic hopefuls at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network
‘Smart decision’: Swalwell’s resignation spurs praise from both parties after bombshell allegations emerge
US military kills 2 suspected cartel operatives in latest Eastern Pacific lethal strike, SOUTHCOM says
Swalwell’s ‘best friend’ in Congress turns on him after bombshell allegations torpedo his political career
Hegseth-affiliated pastor Doug Wilson says Trump ‘has to do better’ after AI Jesus debacle
Protests erupt in Ireland over high fuel costs caused by war in Iran
BREAKING: Second Member of Congress Announces He Will Resign, Papers to Be Filed Tuesday
DoorDash driver hails key Trump policy after delivering McDonald’s to White House: ‘I’m going to enjoy it’
Gabbard claims ‘coordinated effort’ by intelligence community to advance narrative to impeach Trump
“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.
DOJ Signals Probe Into Brutal Assault of Conservative Journalist Filming Anti-ICE Riot
Far-left Senate hopeful’s radical ties to ‘Maduro cronies’ could torpedo campaign: ‘Tired of the chaos’
Push to oust Trump exposes cracks among Democrats on strategy, timing
George Conway Chokes Back Tears Talking About Blowing Nearly $1M on Joe Biden
Mike Johnson raises $500,000 to fight Spanberger’s gerrymandering push in Virginia
State by state: Here’s where ICE has made the most arrests under Trump
Ranking the 2028 Democratic hopefuls at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network
‘Smart decision’: Swalwell’s resignation spurs praise from both parties after bombshell allegations emerge
US military kills 2 suspected cartel operatives in latest Eastern Pacific lethal strike, SOUTHCOM says
Swalwell’s ‘best friend’ in Congress turns on him after bombshell allegations torpedo his political career
Hegseth-affiliated pastor Doug Wilson says Trump ‘has to do better’ after AI Jesus debacle
Protests erupt in Ireland over high fuel costs caused by war in Iran
BREAKING: Second Member of Congress Announces He Will Resign, Papers to Be Filed Tuesday
DoorDash driver hails key Trump policy after delivering McDonald’s to White House: ‘I’m going to enjoy it’
Gabbard claims ‘coordinated effort’ by intelligence community to advance narrative to impeach Trump
“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.
