Presidential candidate Joe Biden is
also targeted by the president, branding him “incompetent” and
“mentally wounded.”
Donald Trump said that he would
“finally be right” that coronavirus would “disappear”-as he
insisted that a surge would be brought under control in cases in the United
States.
“finally be right” that coronavirus would “disappear”-as he
insisted that a surge would be brought under control in cases in the United
States.
The president made the remarks in a
wide-ranging interview, in which he also declined to say whether he would
acknowledge the outcome whether he lost the presidential election in November.
wide-ranging interview, in which he also declined to say whether he would
acknowledge the outcome whether he lost the presidential election in November.
Mr Trump said the recent increase in
several US states in infections was mainly due to a large number of studies
being carried out.
several US states in infections was mainly due to a large number of studies
being carried out.
“It’s because we have the best
tests in the world. If we weren’t testing, you wouldn’t be able to show that
map. If we tested half as much, those figures would be down,” Chris
Wallace told Fox News anchor.
tests in the world. If we weren’t testing, you wouldn’t be able to show that
map. If we tested half as much, those figures would be down,” Chris
Wallace told Fox News anchor.
New cases have increased in the US
over the past month, reaching more than 70,000 a day in the last week,
according to the well-respected count established by Johns Hopkins University
(JHU).
over the past month, reaching more than 70,000 a day in the last week,
according to the well-respected count established by Johns Hopkins University
(JHU).
That’s higher than when deaths rose
dramatically from mid-April through to early may.
dramatically from mid-April through to early may.
 |
| The president refused to confirm he would automatically concede if he loses to Joe Biden |
Mr Trump noted the increase in new
diseases in states like Florida but maintained that it would control the
situation.
diseases in states like Florida but maintained that it would control the
situation.
“We’ve got embers and we’ve got
fires,” the President said. “Florida has been more flame-like, but
it’s-it ‘ll be under balance.”
fires,” the President said. “Florida has been more flame-like, but
it’s-it ‘ll be under balance.”
He also claimed that he believed the
US “might have the lowest mortality rate anywhere in the world.”
US “might have the lowest mortality rate anywhere in the world.”
Even though it’s difficult to reliably
compare death rates, the JHS count shows the US with more deaths as a
percentage of cases than most other countries currently dealing with the
pandemic.
compare death rates, the JHS count shows the US with more deaths as a
percentage of cases than most other countries currently dealing with the
pandemic.
In the interview the president also
played a series of video, showing his comments in the crisis from earlier.
played a series of video, showing his comments in the crisis from earlier.
They included a January statement in
which he said: “It’s one person coming in from China,” and on July 1
when he said: “I think [coronavirus] will just vanish at some point. I
hope.”
which he said: “It’s one person coming in from China,” and on July 1
when he said: “I think [coronavirus] will just vanish at some point. I
hope.”
Mr Trump said these comments did not
undermine the way he handled the crisis.
undermine the way he handled the crisis.
“I will actually be right. I will
actually be right,” he told Fox News.
actually be right,” he told Fox News.
“You know I said, ‘It’s going to
be gone.’ I’ll be doing that again.”
be gone.’ I’ll be doing that again.”
President Trump also denied that there
was a plot to undermine the top specialist in infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony
Fauci-who frequently appeared with him at news conferences.
was a plot to undermine the top specialist in infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony
Fauci-who frequently appeared with him at news conferences.
“Dr Fauci’s made some
mistakes,” said the president.
mistakes,” said the president.
“But I have a very good – I spoke
to him yesterday at length – I have a very good relationship with Dr
Fauci.”
to him yesterday at length – I have a very good relationship with Dr
Fauci.”
 |
| A restaurant hostess in Miami: Florida is one of the states where cases have spiked |
However, when pushed, Mr Trump said
the diseases expert was a “little bit of an alarmist”.
the diseases expert was a “little bit of an alarmist”.
It comes after officials put out a
list of statements made by Dr Fauci on the outbreak, which it said later turned
out to be wrong.
list of statements made by Dr Fauci on the outbreak, which it said later turned
out to be wrong.
Mr Trump put the release down to
“one man from my administration [who] doesn’t like him because he made a
few mistakes”.
“one man from my administration [who] doesn’t like him because he made a
few mistakes”.
Dr. Fauci cautioned about the rise in
states like Texas, Florida, Arizona and California “threatening the whole
world” and that new infections could exceed 100,000 a day if more people
do not start wearing masks and keep to social distance.
states like Texas, Florida, Arizona and California “threatening the whole
world” and that new infections could exceed 100,000 a day if more people
do not start wearing masks and keep to social distance.
More than 140,000 people died in the
US with coronavirus, with more than 3.7 million confirmed infections, according
to JHU estimates.
US with coronavirus, with more than 3.7 million confirmed infections, according
to JHU estimates.
That’s about twice as many as the
nation in second position, Brazil, which has almost 79,000 and just over two
million, respectively.
nation in second position, Brazil, which has almost 79,000 and just over two
million, respectively.
Mr Trump’s response to the pandemic
would be a central topic in the battle against Democrat challenger Joe Biden in
the presidential elections.
would be a central topic in the battle against Democrat challenger Joe Biden in
the presidential elections.
However, the president refused to
confirm that he would concede defeat if he loses to Mr Biden – who he called
“incompetent” and “mentally shot”.
confirm that he would concede defeat if he loses to Mr Biden – who he called
“incompetent” and “mentally shot”.
“What I’m thinking at the moment
is that I’m going to tell you. I’m going to keep you in suspense. OK?” the
president said.
is that I’m going to tell you. I’m going to keep you in suspense. OK?” the
president said.
Once asked if he’d be humble in
defeat, he said: “You don’t know until you see it. It’s up to you. I think
the election will be skewed by mail-in vote. I really do.”
defeat, he said: “You don’t know until you see it. It’s up to you. I think
the election will be skewed by mail-in vote. I really do.”
Mr Trump fired his campaign manager
last week, with just over three months to go into the election. There was talk
that a poor attendance at a campaign rally in June in Oklahoma triggered that.
last week, with just over three months to go into the election. There was talk
that a poor attendance at a campaign rally in June in Oklahoma triggered that.
