Evidence of virus origin in laboratory in China

AMerika President Donald Trump says he has evidence that the crown pandemic may have originated in a Chinese research laboratory. When asked by a reporter if he had seen information that gave him a “high level of confidence” in this regard, Trump said at the White House on Thursday night: “Yes, I have.”

The president referred to the Institute of Virology in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the first cases were known late last year. The head of the laboratory, Yuan Zhiming, categorically rejected the accusations several days ago. Trump again criticized the leadership in China, accusing him of not having contained the virus in the country. “Either they couldn’t do it, or they decided not to, and the world has suffered a lot,” said the president.

“You should be ashamed”

When asked about reports that he could suspend payment obligations to China in the dispute over the origin of the coronavirus, Trump said he could impose punitive tariffs on China. He had already done so in the trade conflict with the government in Beijing.

Trump also criticized the World Health Organization (WHO), which he compared to a “public relations agency for China.” “You shouldn’t make excuses for people who make terrible mistakes,” Trump said. “You should be ashamed.” Trump has suspended US financial contributions to the WHO in the crown crisis.

Trump declined to confirm the information from his own executive intelligence coordinator, Richard Grenell, when asked. His office had announced Thursday that the secret services, like most scientists, assumed that the new coronavirus was a natural and not artificial or manipulated pathogen. Trump said he had not seen the announcement. There are many theories, and the United States has investigated the origin. “We will find out.”