Donald Trump made a sensational claim about COVID-19’s origin after China accused the United States of starting the pandemic.
Donald Trump has recently made a bold claim regarding the origins of COVID-19.
This comes after China accused the United States of being responsible for the virus’s spread.
The debate over where the virus originated has intensified, turning from discussions about pandemic prevention to accusations between the two nations.
China blames the US for starting the COVID-19 pandemic
Last week, China’s State Council Information Office released a report suggesting that COVID-19 did not start in a wet market in Wuhan.
Instead, they claimed the virus may have leaked from a U.S. biotechnology lab.
“Prior to the outbreak in Wuhan, multiple regions in the US recorded positive SARS-CoV-2 test results and other evidence of the virus.”
The report stated that several regions in the U.S. recorded positive SARS-CoV-2 tests before the outbreak in Wuhan.
This has led to accusations that the U.S. has used China as a scapegoat for the pandemic.
Trump claims to know the origin of COVID-19 after China blames the US for starting the pandemic
In response to these allegations, Trump made a sensational statement during a press conference.
He remarked, “I said that right from day one it leaked out, whether it was to the girlfriend or somebody else, [a] scientist walked outside to have lunch with the girlfriend or was together with a lot of people, but that’s how it leaked out in my opinion.”
Trump maintained that the leak could have happened innocently or through incompetence.
However, he remains firm in his belief that it caused significant global damage.
“I’ve never changed that opinion, so it can leak out innocently, stupidly and incompetently, but innocently and half destroy the world.”
Trump signed an executive order limiting virus research.
Alongside his comments, Trump signed an executive order aimed at limiting U.S. funding for certain types of virus research, particularly gain-of-function research.
This type of research involves altering pathogens to study their effects, which can sometimes increase their transmissibility.
Trump’s order prohibits federal funding from contributing to foreign research that could lead to another pandemic.
The executive order, shared on social media, aims to protect Americans from risky research practices.
It specifically mentioned COVID-19 as an example of the risks associated with lab accidents and biosecurity incidents.
The order aims to reduce the chances of lab-related incidents that could lead to future pandemics.
Previous claims about the Virus’s origin
This is not the first time U.S. officials have suggested that COVID-19 might have originated from a lab.
Intelligence officials have previously indicated that the virus could have come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
However, these claims have been consistently denied by Chinese authorities.