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Ghost Dog

(16,881 posts)
Fri May 1, 2020, 03:59 AM May 2020

Trump Contradicts US Intelligence; Says COVID-19 Came From Chinese Lab

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by NancyBlueINOklahoma (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Voice Of America

... "It certainly is unusual, and reflects the politically charged nature of the topic as the Trump administration tries hard to deflect attention from its own performance during the pandemic," said Paul Pillar, a former senior CIA officer who has been critical of the administration. "The statement appears to be a compromise that makes the IC [intelligence community] appear to be working objectively without pouring cold water on the White House's favorite rhetorical line about Chinese malfeasance," said Pillar, now with Georgetown University.

Others, however, see the statement as a smart move, given the onslaught of disinformation that has surrounded the pandemic.

"[It's] doubtful that this was spin or US disinformation," said Larry Pfeiffer, a former CIA chief of staff and former senior director of the White House Situation Room, who like Pillar has been critical of the White House's handling of intelligence matters. "I give the ODNI credit for stepping up to the plate to add some clarity to the situation."

The statement may also portend a greater public role for U.S. intelligence agencies going forward. "These are trying times," said Daniel Hoffman, a retired senior CIA officer. "There's a lot of disinformation, misinformation and ignorance."...

Read more: https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/trump-contradicts-us-intelligence-says-covid-19-came-chinese-lab



The Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a statement on Thursday saying the U.S. intelligence community "concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified," but President Trump didn't seem aware of that assessment during a media briefing later in the day...

Trump wouldn't commit to agreeing with the statement. When pushed on why he felt confident the novel coronavirus originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Trump vaguely said, "I can't tell you that, I'm not allowed to tell you that."

When asked again if he saw evidence that the lab was the origin of the virus, Trump claimed, "Yes, I have," and pivoted to criticizing the World Health Organization.

Earlier in the day, the New York Times reported that Trump administration officials, led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have pushed U.S. spy agencies to find evidence linking the coronavirus with the Wuhan lab...

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattperez/2020/04/30/trump-claims-to-have-seen-evidence-linking-coronavirus-to-wuhan-lab-after-intelligence-chief-says-virus-not-manmade/


U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday his hard-fought trade deal with China was now of secondary importance to the coronavirus pandemic and he threatened new tariffs on Beijing, as his administration crafted retaliatory measures over the outbreak...

Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a range of options against China were under discussion, but cautioned that efforts were in the early stages. Recommendations have not yet reached the level of Trump's top national security team or the president, one official told Reuters.

"There is a discussion as to how hard to hit China and how to calibrate it properly," one of the sources said as Washington walks a tightrope in its ties with Beijing while it imports personal protection equipment (PPE) from there and is wary of harming a sensitive trade deal.

Trump made clear, however, that his concerns about China's role in the origin and spread of the coronavirus were taking priority for now over his efforts to build on an initial trade agreement with Beijing that long dominated his dealings with the world's second-largest economy...

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-china/trump-threatens-new-tariffs-on-china-in-retaliation-for-coronavirus-idUKKBN22C3DS


9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump Contradicts US Intelligence; Says COVID-19 Came From Chinese Lab (Original Post) Ghost Dog May 2020 OP
tryin' hard... sprinkleeninow May 2020 #1
Good discussion at this earlier LBN story with virtually the same title progree May 2020 #2
Ah. Searched for but not found, thanks. Ghost Dog May 2020 #3
Yup, this is his xenophobic, racist election. strategy. He used it in 2016, and plans to use it still_one May 2020 #4
He has to lie accusing China duforsure May 2020 #5
What this country needs is Scarsdale May 2020 #7
2020 parties and banquets at Mar-a-Lago sure didn't help Sunlei May 2020 #6
Because anything 45 says is wholly BlueMTexpat May 2020 #8
Locking as a duplicate OKNancy May 2020 #9

sprinkleeninow

(20,133 posts)
1. tryin' hard...
Fri May 1, 2020, 04:09 AM
May 2020

🚽 🔙 🔚

progree

(10,864 posts)
2. Good discussion at this earlier LBN story with virtually the same title
Fri May 1, 2020, 04:09 AM
May 2020

Trump contradicts US intel by claiming he's seen evidence coronavirus originated in Chinese lab
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142483840

 

Ghost Dog

(16,881 posts)
3. Ah. Searched for but not found, thanks.
Fri May 1, 2020, 04:14 AM
May 2020
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2484075

Does stovepiped confrontation with China help his chances in November?

still_one

(91,950 posts)
4. Yup, this is his xenophobic, racist election. strategy. He used it in 2016, and plans to use it
Fri May 1, 2020, 05:04 AM
May 2020

again this time

Hopefully we are wise to this bullshit, and we get out the vote

duforsure

(11,882 posts)
5. He has to lie accusing China
Fri May 1, 2020, 05:30 AM
May 2020

To promote his propaganda they are responsible for this countries problems from the virus, but the facts show he knew this was coming and did nothing intentionally, and continues stalling response and help with handling this now. He wants everything reopened to hell with the consequences so he can project his propaganda he's doing a great job , when in reality he's failing badly still. This is all backfiring on him now,,and will continue causing many , many more to run from him and the GOP.

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
7. What this country needs is
Fri May 1, 2020, 05:58 AM
May 2020

an ADULT in the WH, surrounded by intelligent, experienced people. The "gang who could not shoot straight" has caused so much disaster. Why do so many intelligent "former" agents show fear of speaking the truth to this con man in the WH? He has done so much damage. Kushner should go back to what he does best, his job as a slum lord. He has been in charge of so many things, and just like Don the Con, he has screwed EVERYTHING up. In a just world, he, Ivanka and their kids would be in the long lines of cars waiting for groceries to fed their family. I find it heartbreaking to see that. Nobody should have to go hungry, yet here we are. If only Donald had read the warnings, but golf and rallies were occupying his tiny little mind. I am beyond disgusted. Time to take the gloves off, and put the blame squarely where it belongs - on the incompetent failure in the WH and his gang of thieves. So far, he has killed thousands of people, destroyed the economy, created debt for the entire country. What else does he have in his bag of tricks, I wonder? The gop has shown once again that they are incapable of running this country, apart from running it into the ground.

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
6. 2020 parties and banquets at Mar-a-Lago sure didn't help
Fri May 1, 2020, 05:51 AM
May 2020

BlueMTexpat

(15,349 posts)
8. Because anything 45 says is wholly
Fri May 1, 2020, 06:23 AM
May 2020

divorced from the truth, the virus most likely did NOT come from a Chinese lab.

OKNancy

(41,832 posts)
9. Locking as a duplicate
Fri May 1, 2020, 06:25 AM
May 2020
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