Coronavirus came from China, US is not going to take it lightly, says Trump

dely coronavirus came from China and US is t going to take it lightly, President Donald Trump said on Thursday. "It came from China. We are t happy about it. We just signed a tre deal, ink wasn't dry and all of sudden this floated in. We are t going to take it lightly,” Trump said participating in a Listening Session with African-American Leers in Michigan.

Trump in last several weeks has been very critical of China's inability to control spre of vel coronavirus within its territory. By Thursday more than 94,000 Americans have died due to coronavirus and over 1.6 million have tested positive. He has so far t given any indication of steps that he is contemplating taking against China.

Meanwhile, pressure is building on his ministration, mainly from Republican lawmakers on this. On Thursday, Senators Ted Cruz and Rick Scott, along with Mike Braun, Marsha Blackburn, Joni Ernst, Martha McSally and Tom Cotton, introduced COVID-19 Vaccine Protection Act to prevent Chinese Communist Party from stealing or sabotaging American COVID-19 vaccine research.

bill requires a thorough national security evaluation and clearance by Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and Federal Bureau of Investigation of all Chinese student visa holders taking part in activities related to COVID-19 vaccine research.

" same Chinese Communist Party that covered up coronavirus outbreak also routinely engs in state sponsored ft of intellectual property," Cruz said. "We cant allow China to steal or interfere with American research and development of a vaccine,” he ded.

"Communist China is responsible for coronavirus pandemic, and ir lies and misinformation cost American lives," Scott said.

"We cant let Communist China off hook for this, and we absolutely cant allow Communist China to steal or sabot any American research efforts related to Coronavirus vaccine. COVID-19 Vaccine Protection Act protects American efforts to create a vaccine as we work to end this pandemic," he ded.

COVID-19 Vaccine Protection Act, among ors, requires an enhanced vetting of nationals of Chinese nationals in US as nimmigrants under F, J, or M student visas to determine if any student visa holders are a national security threat.

Once review is complete, authorizes Department of Homeland Secretary, in consultation with or ncies, to continuously monitor all nimmigrant student visa holders (F, M, J) who are Chinese nationals while in US and are engd in, or have access to, research of any potential COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 related material.

Republican Whip and Ranking Member of Select Subcommittee on Coronavirus Crisis Steve Scalise alleged that China lied to world on coronavirus.

"During a critical period in December and January, China withheld evidence of virus: evidence that confirmed human to human transmission of virus, evidence of extent of spre. China refused entry of American and or medical experts from around world for weeks,” he said.

“And during this time, China hoarded medical supplies like masks, gowns, and or life-saving PPE. Chinese exports of surgical masks, gowns, and gloves were stifled by Chinese Communist Party during this period. China knew danger posed by virus and while y hid truth, y used time to stock up on vital medical supplies,” Scalise said.

“While Chinese authorities limited domestic flights from Wuhan to or Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai, China's government urged international carriers to maintain ir flight schedules — seeding virus throughout rest of world,” he alleged.