WASHINGTON, DC – In order to investigate the “origins” of the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be helpful to look at the administration actually in charge, coordinating with China, and leading our own country’s response during this period.
COVID’s origins in Wuhan are unclear because China initially hid that information and then would not allow US or WHO authorities to investigate. President Trump should have pushed for a timely expert investigation, and not only did he fail to do so, he praised Chinese President Xi’s handling of the crisis.
“Whenever Republicans talk about investigating the origins of COVID they always forget the next three words ‘under President Trump.’” said Facts First Co-Chair David Jolly. “Trump and the family he installed in his White House were once again conflicted during this critical juncture — personally profiting from Chinese deals. House Republicans should be demanding any White House communications, gmails, and private messages related to Ivanka’s licensing, Trump’s lease agreements with Chinese state-owned banks, and the corrupt PPE operation disastrously managed by Jared Kushner.”
The Trump Family’s COVID Failures and Ties to China
TRUMP REPEATEDLY PRAISED PRESIDENT XI
PRESIDENT TRUMP REPEATEDLY PRAISED PRESIDENT XI AND CHINA’S HANDLING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC – TRUMP CLAIMED “GREAT DISCIPLINE IS TAKING PLACE IN CHINA.”
Politico: “15 Times Trump Praised China As Coronavirus Was Spreading Across The Globe” [Politico, 4/15/20]
- February 2020: Trump Praised President Xi And Claimed “He’s Handled [COVID-19] Really Well.” TRUMP: “I just spoke to President Xi last night, and, you know, we’re working on the — the problem, the virus. It’s a — it’s a very tough situation. But I think he’s going to handle it. I think he’s handled it really well. We’re helping wherever we can.” [Politico, 4/15/20]
- February 2020: Trump Claimed President Xi Was “Strong, Sharp, And Powerfully Focused” On Handling Coronavirus – “Great Discipline Is Taking Place In China.” “Just had a long and very good conversation by phone with President Xi of China. He is strong, sharp and powerfully focused on leading the counterattack on the Coronavirus. He feels they are doing very well, even building hospitals in a matter of only days … Great discipline is taking place in China, as President Xi strongly leads what will be a very successful operation. We are working closely with China to help!” [Donald Trump, Twitter, 2/7/20]
CNN: “The Many Times Trump Has Praised China’s Handling Of The Coronavirus Pandemic” [CNN, 5/19/20]
KUSHNER-LED COVID-19 TEAM CREATED A PPE DISASTER
KUSHNER LED A CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE TEAM FILLED WITH VOLUNTEERS FROM PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS WITH NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING THE TASKS THEY WERE ASSIGNED
Washington Post: “Kushner Coronavirus Effort Said To Be Hampered By Inexperienced Volunteers” [Washington Post, 5/5/20]
- The Coronavirus Response Team Led By Jared Kushner Relied on Volunteers From Consulting And Private Equity Firms With Little Expertise On Obtaining Supplies For Hospitals Along With Other Tasks They Were Assigned. “The coronavirus response being spearheaded by President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has relied in part on volunteers from consulting and private equity firms with little expertise in the tasks they were assigned, exacerbating chronic problems in obtaining supplies for hospitals and other needs, according to numerous government officials and a volunteer involved in the effort.” [Washington Post, 5/5/20]
- The Team Responsible For PPE Had Little Success Securing Equipment Given Their Lack Of Knowledge And No Clear Understanding Of The Rules Required To Obtain Said Tools. “The document alleges that the team responsible for PPE had little success in helping the government secure such equipment, in part because none of the team members had significant experience in health care, procurement or supply-chain operations. In addition, none of the volunteers had relationships with manufacturers or a clear understanding of customs requirements or Food and Drug Administration rules, according to the complaint and two senior administration officials.” [Washington Post, 5/5/20]
ONE OF THE BOGUS CONTRACTS ORGANIZED BY KUSHNER’S TEAM WENT ON TO COST THE GOVERNMENT NEARLY $70 MILLION
New York Times: “How Kushner’s Volunteer Force Led a Fumbling Hunt for Medical Supplies” [New York Times, 5/5/20]
- Kushner-Led Volunteers Passed Along Procurement Forms Submitted By A Silicon Valley Engineer Promising 1,000 Ventilators, Who Then Received A $69 Million Dollar Contract – No Ventilators Were Delivered And New York State Had To Seek To Recover The Lost Funds. “At least one tip the volunteers forwarded turned into an expensive debacle. In late March, according to emails obtained by The Times, two of the volunteers passed along procurement forms submitted by Yaron Oren-Pines, a Silicon Valley engineer who said he could provide more than 1,000 ventilators. Mr. Kushner’s volunteers passed the tip to federal officials who then sent it to senior officials in New York, who assumed Mr. Oren-Pines had been vetted and awarded him an eye-popping $69 million contract. Not a single ventilator was delivered, and New York is now seeking to recover the money.” [New York Times, 5/5/20]
IVANKA’S TRADEMARKS COINCIDE WITH TRUMP’S HANDLING OF CHINA
IVANKA TRUMP RECEIVED 41 CHINESE TRADEMARKS DURING HER TIME AS A WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR – THE TRADEMARKS WERE APPROVED 40% FASTER WHEN SHE BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE WHITE HOUSE
Associated Press: “China Grants 18 Trademarks In 2 Months To Trump, Daughter” [Associated Press, 11/6/18]
- The Chinese Government Granted 18 Trademarks To Companies Linked To Both President Trump And Ivanka Trump – China’s Trademark Office Granted Ivanka Trump’s LLC 16 Trademarks Out Of The 34 Total Number Of Marks Approved By November 2018. “The Chinese government granted 18 trademarks to companies linked to President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump over the last two months, Chinese public records show, raising concerns about conflicts of interest in the White House. In October, China’s Trademark Office granted provisional approval for 16 trademarks to Ivanka Trump Marks LLC, bringing to 34 the total number of marks China has greenlighted this year, according to the office’s online database. The new approvals cover Ivanka-branded fashion gear including sunglasses, handbags, shoes and jewelry, as well as beauty services and voting machines.” [Associated Press, 11/6/18]
Ivanka Trump Received 41 Chinese Trademarks From March 2017 To April 2019 At A Rate 40% Faster Than Those She Sought Out Before Her Father’s Inauguration. “Trump has other financial connections to China. The New York Times revealed Tuesday that the U.S. president has a bank account in China. His daughter, Ivanka Trump, received 41 Chinese trademarks from the time she was appointed a White House adviser in March 2017 to April 2019, according to an analysis of documents. The review also showed that the trademarks Ivanka applied for after her father’s inauguration got approved about 40% faster than those she sought out beforehand.” [Forbes, 10/23/20]
SEVERAL MARKS WERE COINCIDENTALLY APPROVED FOLLOWING TRUMP’S ANNOUNCEMENT TO SAVE A CHINESE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
New York Times: “Ivanka Trump Wins China Trademarks, Then Her Father Vows to Save ZTE” [New York Times, 5/28/18]
- New York Times: China Awarded Ivanka Trump Seven New Trademarks Around The Same Time President Trump Vowed To Prevent A Major Chinese Telecommunications Company From Going Bust. “BEIJING — China this month awarded Ivanka Trump seven new trademarks across a broad collection of businesses, including books, housewares and cushions. At around the same time, President Trump vowed to find a way to prevent a major Chinese telecommunications company from going bust, even though the company has a history of violating American limits on doing business with countries like Iran and North Korea. Coincidence? Well, probably.” [New York Times, 5/28/18]
- Just Before And After Trump Made A Surprise Announcement Vowing To Save The Chinese Company, ZTE, Ivanka Trump Was Awarded Long-Sought Trademarks Covering Her Name In China. “Mr. Trump said in a surprise announcement on May 13 that he was working with China’s president, Xi Jinping, to save jobs at the Chinese telecommunications company, ZTE. The company was left paralyzed after American officials forbade companies in the United States from selling their chips, software and other goods to ZTE for violating trade controls. Mr. Trump’s announcement was widely seen as a potential peace offering to Beijing as the United States and China threatened each other with tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of trade. Just before and after that announcement, Ms. Trump won some long-sought trademarks covering her name in China.” [New York Times, 5/28/18]
TRUMP’S BUSINESSES RECEIVED MILLIONS FROM A STATE-OWNED CHINESE BANK WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE
DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE, PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BUSINESSES RECEIVED MILLIONS FROM A CHINESE STATE-OWNED BANK
Forbes: “Forbes Estimates China Paid Trump At Least $5.4 Million Since He Took Office, Via Mysterious Trump Tower Lease” [Forbes, 10/23/20]
- Despite Claiming He Doesn’t Make Money From China, Forbes Claimed $5.4 Million Went Towards The President’s Businesses As Part Of A Lease Agreement Involving A State-Owned Bank In Trump Tower. “President Donald Trump, who declared ‘I don’t make money from China’ in Thursday night’s presidential debate, has in fact collected millions of dollars from government-owned entities in China since he took office. Forbes estimates that at least $5.4 million has flowed into the president’s business from a lease agreement involving a state-owned bank in Trump Tower.” [Forbes, 10/23/20]
- The Industrial And Commercial Bank Of China Signed A Lease For A Space In Trump Tower In 2008 Paying $1.9 Million In Annual Rent – In 2015, Trump Pointed Journalists To The Industrial Bank Of China And Claimed “I Have The Best Tenants In The World.” “The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China signed a lease for space in 2008, years before the president took office, paying about $1.9 million in annual rent. Trump is well-aware of the deal. ‘I’ll show you the Industrial Bank of China,’ he told three Forbes journalists touring Trump Tower in 2015. ‘I have the best tenants in the world in this building.’” [Forbes, 10/23/20]
- The Bank’s Lease Was Set To Expire In 2019, But Eric Trump Claimed The Chinese State-Owned Bank Would Keep “A Couple Of Floors” In Trump Tower. “The lease was set to expire on October 31, 2019, according to a debt prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2018, the state-owned bank agreed to a new lease in a different office building nearby, suggesting it might leave Trump Tower. But then, the bank decided to stay in the president’s building anyway. “They are keeping a couple of floors,” Eric Trump confirmed onstage at a business conference in October 2019.” [Forbes, 10/23/20]
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