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.
Border protocols automatically triggered in search for Nancy Guthrie, retired agent says
FBI joins probe in murder of Christian teacher shot in Ohio home as ‘American Idol’ husband, children slept
Report: Legacy Media ‘Journalist’ Caught Giving Marco Rubio the Finger During Press Conference
Obama and Susan Rice Reportedly ‘Broke Down and Cried’ After Trump’s 2016 Win
Mamdani plan pours millions into ‘racial equity’ offices and six-figure diversity jobs, cuts 5,000 NYPD jobs
Netflix faces consumer lawsuit as Warner Bros. merger scrutiny mounts
Bernie Sanders heads to California to rally support for the billionaire wealth tax
Duffy gives Illinois 30-day ultimatum after audit finds 1 in 5 noncitizen truck licenses issued illegally
Nigel Farage appoints JD Vance’s ‘British sherpa’ as head of policy for Reform UK
How to watch President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address to Congress live
Climate groups sue Trump administration over EPA’s bombshell deregulation decision
Trump Admin Cancels Visas for 100,000 Foreign Nationals Who Don’t Meet American Standards
Developing: Bad News as DNA Results in Guthrie Kidnapping Come in to FBI
‘Devil in the Ozarks’ gets more prison time for escaping, now in supermax facility
Bald eagle floating on Hudson River ice rescued by NYPD
“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.
Border protocols automatically triggered in search for Nancy Guthrie, retired agent says
FBI joins probe in murder of Christian teacher shot in Ohio home as ‘American Idol’ husband, children slept
Report: Legacy Media ‘Journalist’ Caught Giving Marco Rubio the Finger During Press Conference
Obama and Susan Rice Reportedly ‘Broke Down and Cried’ After Trump’s 2016 Win
Mamdani plan pours millions into ‘racial equity’ offices and six-figure diversity jobs, cuts 5,000 NYPD jobs
Netflix faces consumer lawsuit as Warner Bros. merger scrutiny mounts
Bernie Sanders heads to California to rally support for the billionaire wealth tax
Duffy gives Illinois 30-day ultimatum after audit finds 1 in 5 noncitizen truck licenses issued illegally
Nigel Farage appoints JD Vance’s ‘British sherpa’ as head of policy for Reform UK
How to watch President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address to Congress live
Climate groups sue Trump administration over EPA’s bombshell deregulation decision
Trump Admin Cancels Visas for 100,000 Foreign Nationals Who Don’t Meet American Standards
Developing: Bad News as DNA Results in Guthrie Kidnapping Come in to FBI
‘Devil in the Ozarks’ gets more prison time for escaping, now in supermax facility
Bald eagle floating on Hudson River ice rescued by NYPD
“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.
