Timeline: President Trump’s comments on the coronavirus
Al JazeeraIn briefings, interviews and rallies, Trump has repeatedly claimed the virus is ‘under control and will ‘go away’ President Donald Trump has sought to minimise the risks of the coronavirus since it first emerged and has contradicted US public health experts as he pushed to reopen the US economy. April 23: Trump suggests ‘injection’ of disinfectant could kill virus “I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute,” Trump said in a White House press briefing. April 6: Trump sees ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ “There’s tremendous light at the end of the tunnel,” Trump said in a White House briefing. No, we’ve done a great job.” Later on March 16 in White House press briefing, Trump said he expected the virus to go away: “It washes through. But where it washes through.” February 26-27: Compares coronavirus to the flu, says ‘it will disappear’ “We’re very, very ready for this, for anything – whether it’s going to be a breakout of larger proportions or whether or not we’re – you know, we’re at that very low level, and we want to keep it that way,” Trump said at a White House press briefing on February 26.