President Donald Trump defended the “perfectly coordinated” US response to the coronavirus epidemic Sunday amid heavy criticism over health cuts and strategic blunders that have failed to stem its rapid spread.
The virus has reached 30 US states, with Oregon the latest to declare a state of emergency Sunday, and 60 million people in Caifornia and New York states under crisis measures.Two more deaths were reported in Washington state — both linked to a virus-hit care home near Seattle — bringing the nationwide toll to at least 21.
Trump, who has been accused of peddling misinformation on the outbreak, blamed the media in a tweet for trying to make his government “look bad” as criticism mounted with nearly 500 cases recorded.”We have a perfectly coordinated and fine tuned plan at the White House for our attack on CoronaVirus,” Trump tweeted.
“We moved VERY early to close borders to certain areas, which was a Godsend. V.P. is doing a great job. The Fake News Media is doing everything possible to make us look bad. Sad!”But Larry Hogan, the Republican governor of Maryland, criticized Trump, telling NBC the president “hasn’t communicated the way I would, and the way I might like him to.”
