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.
Popular Potato Product Faces Recall in 26 States
Can Trump Really Denaturalize Somalis En Masse?
GOP lawmaker renews oversight hearing request of DHS agencies following fatal shooting in Minneapolis
Meet the longtime biz partner of Ilhan Omar’s husband as questions swirl over her skyrocketing net worth
Anti-ICE Church Harasser Posted Profane, Ranting Video Before Arrest, Called to ‘Shut This Country Down’
Minnesota school board member Chauntyll Allen ripped by state lawmaker after anti-ICE church invasion arrest
ACLU seeks reinstated constraints on federal officers in Minnesota after Alex Pretti shooting
Narratives clash after Trump and victim’s family react to second Minneapolis ICE shooting
Neonatal Nurse Pleads No Contest to 9 Charges of Abusing Infants – Will Serve Disgraceful Sentence Despite Damning Video Evidence
Trump hails ‘great and very brave’ UK soldiers after slamming NATO allies’ Afghanistan service
Lutnick Rips Globalist Elites Straight to Their Faces for Pillaging the American Dream
European leaders insist ‘shifting international order’ is inevitable while holding out hope instability will pass
CNN Analyst: Even Most Democrat Voters Hate the Democratic Party
Gambling industry bankrolls members of Congress who push pro-gambling legislation
Judge blocks Trump admin from ‘destroying or altering’ evidence in deadly Minneapolis shooting
“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.
Popular Potato Product Faces Recall in 26 States
Can Trump Really Denaturalize Somalis En Masse?
GOP lawmaker renews oversight hearing request of DHS agencies following fatal shooting in Minneapolis
Meet the longtime biz partner of Ilhan Omar’s husband as questions swirl over her skyrocketing net worth
Anti-ICE Church Harasser Posted Profane, Ranting Video Before Arrest, Called to ‘Shut This Country Down’
Minnesota school board member Chauntyll Allen ripped by state lawmaker after anti-ICE church invasion arrest
ACLU seeks reinstated constraints on federal officers in Minnesota after Alex Pretti shooting
Narratives clash after Trump and victim’s family react to second Minneapolis ICE shooting
Neonatal Nurse Pleads No Contest to 9 Charges of Abusing Infants – Will Serve Disgraceful Sentence Despite Damning Video Evidence
Trump hails ‘great and very brave’ UK soldiers after slamming NATO allies’ Afghanistan service
Lutnick Rips Globalist Elites Straight to Their Faces for Pillaging the American Dream
European leaders insist ‘shifting international order’ is inevitable while holding out hope instability will pass
CNN Analyst: Even Most Democrat Voters Hate the Democratic Party
Gambling industry bankrolls members of Congress who push pro-gambling legislation
Judge blocks Trump admin from ‘destroying or altering’ evidence in deadly Minneapolis shooting
“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.
