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The news that Trump is in deep debt to a state-owned bank in China — a bill that comes due during the next president’s term — sheds some light on a seeming puzzle: why does Trump keep praising China's leader as the COVID-19 pandemic gets worse? https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/24/trump-biden-china-debt-205475
The news that Trump is in deep debt to a state-owned bank in China — a bill that comes due during the next president’s term — sheds some light on a seeming puzzle: why does Trump keep praising China's leader as the COVID-19 pandemic gets worse? https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/24/trump-biden-china-debt-205475
Remember, U.S. intelligence warned about the outbreak — and the Chinese government downplaying its spread and lethality — in late 2019. The WH and NSC got briefings in December. Trump got a “detailed explanation” in early January and warnings thereafter. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/intelligence-report-warned-coronavirus-crisis-early-november-sources/story?id=70031273
Trump ignored these warnings. Trump really wanted his trade "deal" with China. The deal was his path out of a bad trade war and to re-election — the “feather in his red cap.” So he praised Xi, calling him a “very, very good friend of mine” on January 15. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-signing-u-s-china-phase-one-trade-agreement-2/
But the praise continues well after the “deal” is done — at precisely the time when we could prepared for the pandemic. Trump’s top health official tried to warn him on January 18, but Trump interjected with his concern about flavored vaping products. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/us-intelligence-reports-from-january-and-february-warned-about-a-likely-pandemic/2020/03/20/299d8cda-6ad5-11ea-b5f1-a5a804158597_story.html
Trump receives another clear warning on January 23. But the next day Trump gives thanks to China on our behalf, and praising China's "transparency."
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1220818115354923009?s=20
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1220818115354923009?s=20
January 30: “Now we're working very strongly with China on the coronavirus -- that's a new thing that a lot of people are talking about. Hopefully it won't be as bad as some people think it could be ... And we think we have it very well under control....
... And those people are all recuperating successfully. But we're working very closely with China and other countries, and we think it's going to have a very good ending for it. So that I can assure you.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-usmca-celebration-american-workers-warren-mi/
A week later, with a public health emergency declared in the U.S., Trump tweets more bizarrely personal praise of Xi, calling him "strong, sharp and powerfully focused."
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1225728755248828416?s=20
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1225728755248828416?s=20
Asked if he was concerned that China is covering up the full extent of coronavirus, Trump says no, adding that “China is working very hard” and “doing a very professional job.” https://factba.se/transcript/donald-trump-press-gaggle-marine-one-departure-february-7-2020
On Feb 10 Trump tells Fox China is “very, you know, professionally run in the sense that they have everything under control. I really believe they are going to have it under control fairly soon.... https://factba.se/transcript/donald-trump-interview-trish-regan-fox-business-february-10-2020
...You know in April, supposedly, it dies with the hotter weather. And that's a beautiful date to look forward to," adding as to China "our relationship on top of that is probably better with China. They respect us now.”
The day Trump receives a memo warning of 100k potential American deaths, Trump says: “No, I think President Xi is working very, very hard. I spoke to him. He’s working very hard. I think he’s doing a very good job... But President Xi loves his country." https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-marine-one-departure-83/
On Feb 26, as the Chinese government holds up access for CDC experts, Trump again praises Xi: “I have spoken to President Xi, and they’re working very hard. And if you know anything about him, I think he’ll be in pretty good shape.”
It goes on and on. https://twitter.com/natsecaction/status/1250450939305168898?s=20
It goes on and on. https://twitter.com/natsecaction/status/1250450939305168898?s=20
On March 27, with nearly 20,000 cases in the U.S., Trump again praises Xi, offering "Much respect!"
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1243407157321560071?s=20
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1243407157321560071?s=20
On April 1, asked about China’s cover-up of COVID-19, Trump says: “We really don’t know...[but] we’re working together on a lot of different things, including trade” and “they’ll be spending $250 billion...we have a great trade deal.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-16/
Why so much praise for China's leader, even as the pandemic worsens and Trump fails at home? Trump's debt to Chinese state banks certainly raises a serious question. We now know from three years of painful experience: Trump always puts himself first. https://twitter.com/natsecaction/status/1253690022974414854?s=20
