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.
Chaotic border chase ends with illegal immigrants found crammed in semitruck sleeping area
DOJ sues UCLA over alleged ‘Judenrein’ conditions during anti-Israel encampment
Christian Lifeguard Punished for Removing Pride Flag Is Headed to Trial After Being Told His ‘Religious Beliefs Don’t Matter’ by Gov’t Boss – Lawsuit
Fact Check: Is the Bible ‘Silent on Abortion,’ as James Talarico Claims?
NASA chief pulls back curtain on Trump UFO files after bizarre finds surface in buried fed records
Report: NBA Team Could Interview Woke Women’s College Coach for Head Coaching Job
Democrats break with scandal-plagued Graham Platner, warn of ‘civil war’ in party
Uganda closes border with Congo after surge of rare Ebola cases
Anna ‘Delvey’ Sorokin still posting from New York City as DHS signals her deportation may finally be coming
Federal agents in New Jersey beat back anti-ICE agitators in chaos outside Delaney Hall detention facility
Pro Bowl NFL Running Back Arrested on 5 Charges
US Military Carries Out Deadly Strike on Drug-Smuggling Vessel in Eastern Pacific
U.S. Rushing to Set Up Ebola Quarantine Facility: Report
ACLU hit with foreign money complaint as new election law faces major test
New York sheriffs ‘mad as hell’ as Hochul pushes to ban key law enforcement partnership
“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.
Chaotic border chase ends with illegal immigrants found crammed in semitruck sleeping area
DOJ sues UCLA over alleged ‘Judenrein’ conditions during anti-Israel encampment
Christian Lifeguard Punished for Removing Pride Flag Is Headed to Trial After Being Told His ‘Religious Beliefs Don’t Matter’ by Gov’t Boss – Lawsuit
Fact Check: Is the Bible ‘Silent on Abortion,’ as James Talarico Claims?
NASA chief pulls back curtain on Trump UFO files after bizarre finds surface in buried fed records
Report: NBA Team Could Interview Woke Women’s College Coach for Head Coaching Job
Democrats break with scandal-plagued Graham Platner, warn of ‘civil war’ in party
Uganda closes border with Congo after surge of rare Ebola cases
Anna ‘Delvey’ Sorokin still posting from New York City as DHS signals her deportation may finally be coming
Federal agents in New Jersey beat back anti-ICE agitators in chaos outside Delaney Hall detention facility
Pro Bowl NFL Running Back Arrested on 5 Charges
US Military Carries Out Deadly Strike on Drug-Smuggling Vessel in Eastern Pacific
U.S. Rushing to Set Up Ebola Quarantine Facility: Report
ACLU hit with foreign money complaint as new election law faces major test
New York sheriffs ‘mad as hell’ as Hochul pushes to ban key law enforcement partnership
“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.
