Trump claims coronavirus might have been spread on purpose by China
1 minute read
The US President told The Wall Street Journal "there's a chance it was intentional" in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic which began in Wuhan last year.
He suggested China may have been motivated by their economy being in a "mess" while in contrast America's was "blowing them away" - though he didn't provide any evidence.
"They're saying, man, we're a mess. The United States is killing us. Don't forget, my economy during the last year and a half was blowing them away. And the reason is the tariffs."
However, he reiterated this line of thinking is unlikely and it was probably down to incompetence - "but you never know".
And while nearly 11 million people were tested in Wuhan as a second wave of the virus struck, Trump said he doesn't plan to introduce widespread testing of this kind in the US.
"I personally think testing is overrated, even though I created the greatest testing machine in history," he said.
The president has been criticised for failing to nationalise testing and for being too slow to deploy the Defense Production Act.