“It could have been stopped in China before it started and it wasn’t, and the whole world is suffering because of it,” Trump told a daily White House briefing. But if they were knowingly responsible, yeah, I mean, then sure there should be consequences,” Trump said. But he and other senior officials have also referred to it as the “Chinese virus” and in recent days have ramped up their rhetoric. At the same time, however, White House officials are mindful of the potential backlash if tensions get too heated. Even Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force who has steered clear of political aspects of Trump’s contentions briefings, questioned China’s data.

Source: Dhaka Tribune April 19, 2020 00:33 UTC