Trump confident coronavirus may have originated in Chinese lab

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about Trump Administration efforts to protect senior citizens from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic during an event in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 30, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was confident the coronavirus may have originated in a Chinese virology lab, but declined to describe the evidence, ratcheting up tensions with Beijing over the origins of the deadly disease.

 

Trump did not mince words at a White House event on Thursday, when asked if he had seen evidence that gave him a "high degree of confidence" the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

 

"Yes, yes I have," he said, declining to give specifics.

 

"I can't tell you that. I'm not allowed to tell you that."

 

The Chinese state-backed Wuhan Institute of Virology has dismissed the allegations, and other U.S. officials have downplayed their likelihood. Most experts believe the virus originated in a market selling wildlife in Wuhan and jumped from animals to people.

 

The Republican president has shown increasing frustration with China in recent weeks over the pandemic, which has cost tens of thousands of lives in the United States alone, sparked an economic contraction and threatened his chances of re-election in November.

 

Trump said previously his administration was trying to determine whether the coronavirus emanated from the Wuhan lab, following media reports it may have been artificially synthesized at a China state-backed laboratory or perhaps escaped from such a facility.

 

The coronavirus outbreak has contributed to a deepening rift between the Trump administration and China, with Beijing suggesting the U.S. military might have brought the coronavirus to China and Trump saying China failed to alert the world to coronavirus risks in a timely and transparent fashion.

 

Trump also said on Thursday it was possible that China either could not stop the spread of the coronavirus or let it spread. He declined to say whether he held Chinese President Xi Jinping responsible for what he feels is misinformation about the emergence of the coronavirus.

 

Trump told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday that he was looking at different options in terms of consequences for Beijing over the virus. "I can do a lot," he said.

 

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Steve Holland and Alexandra Alper; Editing by Sandra Maler and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-01

 

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Great ..create another conspiracy theory to galvanize your base against China...even though your own experts and intelligence agencies have told you numerous times there is zero evidence of what you are saying. A very corrupt and broken human being

Just a typical trump deflection it’s what he does mr bs imo

8 minutes ago, tonray said:

Great ..create another conspiracy theory to galvanize your base against China...even though your own experts and intelligence agencies have told you numerous times there is zero evidence of what you are saying. A very corrupt and broken human being

Zero evidence?  Trump was asked for evidence and he clearly stated he's prohibited from talking about it.  Doesn't take much to figure out why but here's a hint: it's an ongoing investigation.

2 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Zero evidence?  Trump was asked for evidence and he clearly stated he's prohibited from talking about it.  Doesn't take much to figure out why but here's a hint: it's an ongoing investigation.

Or maybe there is no evidence.

Now given Trumps track record for lying which do you think is the most likely?

17 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

Or maybe there is no evidence.

Now given Trumps track record for lying which do you think is the most likely?

What I think is most likely is that you don't know what you're talking about.  Do you seriously think Trump would state what he did sans evidence?  You're dreaming.

27 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

Or maybe there is no evidence.

Now given Trumps track record for lying which do you think is the most likely?

I agree. Trump has lied so much in the past that all his credibility has vanished, if there ever was any.

 

I would not be surprised if next week Trump is claiming that the coronavirus came from Australia. 

4 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

16 minutes ago, tonray said:

Great ..create another conspiracy theory to galvanize your base against China...even though your own experts and intelligence agencies have told you numerous times there is zero evidence of what you are saying. A very corrupt and broken human being

Zero evidence?  Trump was asked for evidence and he clearly stated he's prohibited from talking about it.  Doesn't take much to figure out why but here's a hint: it's an ongoing investigation.

Given the amount of lies that spew from Trumps mouth, why you expect anyone but a Trump supporter to believe this? 

 

Scientists Are Tired of Explaining Why The COVID-19 Virus Was Not Made in a Lab

 

"All evidence so far points to the fact the COVID-19 virus is naturally derived and not man-made," explains immunologist Nigel McMillan from the Menzies Health Institute Queensland.

How do you know President Trump is lying ?:   His lips are moving 

57 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Zero evidence?  Trump was asked for evidence and he clearly stated he's prohibited from talking about it.  Doesn't take much to figure out why but here's a hint: it's an ongoing investigation.

Trump is saying the opposite of what our intelligence agency’s say it’s a distraction 

24 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

Given the amount of lies that spew from Trumps mouth, why you expect anyone but a Trump supporter to believe this? 

 

Scientists Are Tired of Explaining Why The COVID-19 Virus Was Not Made in a Lab

 

"All evidence so far points to the fact the COVID-19 virus is naturally derived and not man-made," explains immunologist Nigel McMillan from the Menzies Health Institute Queensland.

Now account for all of the scientists who agree that it was created in a lab.  One thing that can be said with certainty is that things currently do not add up.

5 minutes ago, Tug said:

Trump is saying the opposite of what our intelligence agency’s say it’s a distraction 

They are currently investigating.  The intelligence agencies are, that is.  So what were you saying?

7 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Now account for all of the scientists who agree that it was created in a lab.  One thing that can be said with certainty is that things currently do not add up.

Oh well i suppose trump and his supporters will reject National Intelligence latest advisory below which also contradicts your claim.

 

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a statement on Thursday, appearing to contradict theories by anti-China activists and some supporters of US President Donald Trump.

“The entire Intelligence Community has been consistently providing critical support to U.S. policymakers and those responding to the COVID-19 virus, which originated in China,” the statement reads.

“The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified.

 

https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/coronavirus-update-us-intelligence-community-concludes-covid-19-was-not-manmade--c-1009954

3 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

They are currently investigating.  The intelligence agencies are, that is.  So what were you saying?

Stirring up division rumors innuendo is the exact opposite of what we should be doing unfortunately it is exactly what trump is trying to do the intelligence agency’s don’t think it’s manmade

It's this theory that the virus escaped from the Wuhan lab.

 

Personally, since the WMD performance of Colin Powell at the UN I don't believe a word that comes out of an American politician's mouth.

 

If there's evidence we need to see it.

 

I hope it will not be Mike Pompeo holding up a glass vial at the UN "And here we have the original vial that was lost out of the Wuhan lab"...

what does biden think ?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPDPzbLFeP4

2 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was confident the coronavirus may have originated in a Chinese virology lab

..so which is Donald "confident" or "may have" ? He's just muddying the waters with doublespeak to deflect from his own incompetent reaction to the virus. He was sitting on his hands throughout the whole of February. "It's a hoax"  “You have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero" and predicted “packed churches” on Easter Sunday. And that's before he got into his snake oil phase: useless wonder drugs and disinfectant cures.

Edited May 1, 20206 yr by dexterm

1 hour ago, Tippaporn said:

Zero evidence?  Trump was asked for evidence and he clearly stated he's prohibited from talking about it.  Doesn't take much to figure out why but here's a hint: it's an ongoing investigation.

What prohibits Trump talking about evidence?

 

He has on a number of occasions blurted out highly sensitive intelligence information and when criticized he and his supporters have argued that as President he has the right to declassify any information he wishes.

 

If Trump had evidence he’d show it.

 

His accusation is a lie, his claim to have seen evidence is a lie.

2 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

This is getting fun.  Things are falling apart so quickly and on so many fronts for the corrupt cabal and we haven't even gotten to Durham yet.  2020 is going to be a marvelous year.  And it'll all be crowned with another four years of Trump.

QAnon fruitcake

42 minutes ago, Tug said:

Stirring up division rumors innuendo is the exact opposite of what we should be doing unfortunately it is exactly what trump is trying to do the intelligence agency’s don’t think it’s manmade

Please provide a reference where President Trump states this was a man made virus.

if you do provide a credible statement confirming  Trump saying manmade virus congratulations on providing your first credible reference in over 4000 posts.

In the unlikely event you can not provide the reference please recall your own statement about rumors and division, and start practicing what you preach.

 

It's obviously the widely available information that the Wuhan lab in China harvested coronavirus from bats and had the virus in freezers.

 

Coupled with evidence of security failures at the lab.

 

This will be used against China because they've thrown the Phase 1 deal out the window due to the virus.

24 minutes ago, twocatsmac said:

China acted swiftly to protect their own interests without seriously alerting the rest of us. 

The best conspiracy theory I’ve heard is this; What if the Chinese death rate is lower than they’ve claimed, even half of published figures? and what that then reveals.

Are you confident in this conspiracy theory or do you just think it may have happened.
Just like Trump you create a straw man theory then treat it as fact, in order to distract, and probably for the same motives as Trump.

So let's get this straight. The US's own intelligent services say this isn't true. Prominet scientists say this isn't true and not one single other world leader is saying this is true but Trump, heavily under fire for his mishandling of the virus and looking desperately to lay blame anywhere other than with himself (especially China), says it's so?

Well I for one am convinced. 

The saddest part of all of this,his sheeple just accept anything Trump says.

I am very confident i may win the next lottery.

27 minutes ago, twocatsmac said:

China acted swiftly to protect their own interests without seriously alerting the rest of us. 

The best conspiracy theory I’ve heard is this; What if the Chinese death rate is lower than they’ve claimed, even half of published figures? and what that then reveals.

China also knows how to burn USA. This is actually quite fun to watch. Also pretty realistic review what happened in the past months.

 

China: We discovered a new virus.
America: So what?

China: It's Dangerous
America: It's only a Flu

China: Wear a Mask
America: Don't wear a Mask

 

 

2 minutes ago, CaptRon2 said:

Please provide a reference where President Trump states this was a man made virus.

if you do provide a credible statement confirming  Trump saying manmade virus congratulations on providing your first credible reference in over 4000 posts.

In the unlikely event you can not provide the reference please recall your own statement about rumors and division, and start practicing what you preach.

 

Er, how about:- 

'Trump did not mince words at a White House event on Thursday, when asked if he had seen evidence that gave him a "high degree of confidence" the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. "Yes, yes I have," he said, declining to give specifics.'

 

It's in this article. 

Note that Australia is also investigating the same thing and China is upset with them about it.

Note that the first stories were that the virus came from live animals in a "wet market" - until evidence showed otherwise (i.e. the fact that nearly half of the original infections in Wuhan never went near a wet market or had contact with others who did).

China then picked up on a rumour (started by the Russians) that the Americans had created the virus and smuggled it into China to release it. Even the Communist Party's state media were spreading that rumour around the country (and forgetting all about the "wet market" altogether).

Then it turned out that there was not 1, but actually 3 labs in the area that were all studying coronaviruses from bats. 1 lab being situated a bare 300 meters from the "wet market" where it was initially claimed the virus had originated.

There have been numerous articles regarding those labs, including ones about lax protocols, "accidents" and safety procedures. Apparently there were warnings about the Level 4 lab as far back as 2018.

However, I wouldn't trust the American Intelligence agencies to be able to find their own dicks. Remember those are the same intelligence agencies that provided the intel to George Bush that Saddam Hussein had (lots of) Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and then Bush used that intel to convince a lot of (mostly Western) countries to support his invasion of Iraq (the 2nd Gulf War).

And surprise, surprise, it turns out Hussein didn't have any WMDs and it turns out the American intelligence agencies had made the whole thing up (supposedly at the request of the "White House" meaning the President himself) so he could justify the attack on Saddam. (Bush needed a war to ensure his re-election and he wanted to payback against Saddam who supposedly had put a bounty on Bush's father after the first Gulf War).

So it would not surprise me if those same intelligence agencies did find proof that this virus came from a lab in Wuhan.
 

10 minutes ago, TheDark said:

China also knows how to burn USA. This is actually quite fun to watch. Also pretty realistic review what happened in the past months.

 

China: We discovered a new virus.
America: So what?

China: It's Dangerous
America: It's only a Flu

China: Wear a Mask
America: Don't wear a Mask

 

 

Or try this.

 

China: We created another virus.

2 hours ago, Rookiescot said:

Or maybe there is no evidence.

Now given Trumps track record for lying which do you think is the most likely?

Isn,t lying a pre requisite to be a politician?the