Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris claimed that President Trump called the coronavirus a “hoax” in the early months of the pandemic.
“On Jan. 28,” Harris said, “the vice president and the president were informed about the nature about this pandemic. They were informed that it’s lethal in consequence, that it is airborne, that it will affect young people.”
“They didn’t tell you. Can you imagine if you knew on Jan. 28 as opposed to March 13 what they knew?” she asked. “They knew, and they covered it up. The president said it was a ‘hoax.’”
The Associated Press reported in September that the claim, repeatedly used by former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign, is misleading.
Trump’s full quotation was in regard to Democratic leaders’ response to the coronavirus, not the virus itself.
“Now the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus,” Trump said during a campaign rally. “You know that, right? Coronavirus. They’re politicizing it.” After bringing up the Russia investigation and the House impeachment proceedings, he said, “They tried the impeachment hoax. […] And this is their new hoax.”
The claim resurfaced among Democrats after Trump announced on Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
