"Trump Concealed Deadly Threat of COVID-19 Despite Awareness"

Bob Woodward's New Book... Trump Explains "To Prevent Panic"
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Journalist Bob Woodward's new book "Rage" [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Allegations have emerged that U.S. President Donald Trump concealed the severity of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), despite knowing it was far deadlier than the flu. President Trump offered a weak excuse, claiming it was a measure to prevent panic.

On the 9th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) and CNN reported that President Trump mentioned the dangers of COVID-19 during multiple interviews for journalist Bob Woodward's new book "Rage," yet failed to respond appropriately.

Woodward revealed in his book that during an interview on February 7, President Trump said, "It is very tricky and delicate," and described it as "more deadly than your severe flu." He added that Trump probably explained that COVID-19 was five times deadlier than the flu.

Woodward disclosed detailed mentions of COVID-19 he heard during 18 interviews with President Trump.

Woodward stated that on January 28, President Trump was briefed in the White House Oval Office by Robert O'Brien, National Security Council (NSC) advisor, who said COVID-19 would be "the greatest national security threat during the president’s term" and "the toughest challenge the president will face." Matthew Pottinger, then deputy advisor, also told the president that it was clear the U.S. was facing a public health emergency comparable to the 1918 influenza pandemic that killed about 50 million people worldwide.

Regarding this, Woodward pointed out that President Trump publicly downplayed the risks of COVID-19, missing the opportunity to respond effectively.

In an interview on March 19, President Trump said, "Some amazing facts came out today and yesterday," adding, "It’s not just older people. There are many young people too."

Also, during the COVID-19 task force briefing on April 3, President Trump still downplayed the virus's danger, saying it would disappear. However, two days later on April 5, he told Woodward, "It’s terrible. Unbelievable." On April 13, he also said, "It can spread too easily. You wouldn’t believe it."

In a May interview, when asked if he remembered O'Brien’s warning that "the virus would be the greatest national security threat during his term," President Trump responded vaguely, saying "No."

Despite the COVID-19 casualties snowballing, President Trump sometimes made statements that did not acknowledge responsibility.

Woodward reported that in the last interview in July, President Trump said, "The virus has nothing to do with me," and "It’s not my fault. It’s China that released a virus that would ruin them."

As the contents of the book stirred controversy, President Trump responded. When asked by reporters after nominating a Supreme Court justice, he explained, "Creating panic is the last thing. Maybe it was to reduce panic." President Trump claimed he did not act that way and argued that the prices of medical masks and gowns would have skyrocketed.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany also claimed, "President Trump conveyed the same opinions he expressed to Woodward privately," adding, "He said hundreds of thousands could die."

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden immediately criticized the president. At a rally in Michigan, Biden said, "President Trump’s actions were a betrayal of life and death to the American people."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.