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.
Two arrested at Costco after alleged fraudulent credit card shopping spree
Russian missile attack on Kyiv collapses apartment building, trapping residents
Wild video captures apartment complex electrical room explosion as firefighters investigate smoke call
Two People Climb to the Top of Empire State Building Antenna, Fly Banner with Message
Coalition of 25 states sues Trump admin over Medicaid work rule designed to prevent fraud
Internal emails expose how July 4th bash is being derailed by Dem-run county: ‘Offensive’
Michelle Obama Went ‘Absolutely Ballistic’ and Blocked RFK Jr.’s Wife Cheryl Hines from Appearing in New Show: Report
Walz, Minnesota Board of Pardons clears convicted illegal alien child sex offender facing deportation
Trump Takes First Flight on New Air Force One: ‘Nobody’s Ever Seen Anything Like It’
Kamala Harris Privately Consulting with Zohran Mamdani and Other Radical Leftists as She Maneuvers for 2028: Report
UPDATE: Mitch McConnell Was Found Unconscious at Home by Paramedics Before Being Hospitalized in Most Recent Health Scare
ICE surges enforcement, makes 10,000 arrests in five days amid Supreme Court birthright citizenship decision
Travesty of Justice: Arab Immigrant Sentenced to 365 Days in Jail for Taking Jewish Senior Citizen’s Life in CA
McConnell was found ‘unconscious’ in home last month as condition remains unknown
Congressman Gets Mixed Response After Explaining Why He Disappeared for Four Months
“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.
Two arrested at Costco after alleged fraudulent credit card shopping spree
Russian missile attack on Kyiv collapses apartment building, trapping residents
Wild video captures apartment complex electrical room explosion as firefighters investigate smoke call
Two People Climb to the Top of Empire State Building Antenna, Fly Banner with Message
Coalition of 25 states sues Trump admin over Medicaid work rule designed to prevent fraud
Internal emails expose how July 4th bash is being derailed by Dem-run county: ‘Offensive’
Michelle Obama Went ‘Absolutely Ballistic’ and Blocked RFK Jr.’s Wife Cheryl Hines from Appearing in New Show: Report
Walz, Minnesota Board of Pardons clears convicted illegal alien child sex offender facing deportation
Trump Takes First Flight on New Air Force One: ‘Nobody’s Ever Seen Anything Like It’
Kamala Harris Privately Consulting with Zohran Mamdani and Other Radical Leftists as She Maneuvers for 2028: Report
UPDATE: Mitch McConnell Was Found Unconscious at Home by Paramedics Before Being Hospitalized in Most Recent Health Scare
ICE surges enforcement, makes 10,000 arrests in five days amid Supreme Court birthright citizenship decision
Travesty of Justice: Arab Immigrant Sentenced to 365 Days in Jail for Taking Jewish Senior Citizen’s Life in CA
McConnell was found ‘unconscious’ in home last month as condition remains unknown
Congressman Gets Mixed Response After Explaining Why He Disappeared for Four Months
“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.
