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| Coronavirus: Obama calls US response 'chaotic disaster' | Coronavirus: Obama calls US response 'chaotic disaster' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Former US President Barack Obama has strongly criticised his successor Donald Trump over his response to the coronavirus crisis. | Former US President Barack Obama has strongly criticised his successor Donald Trump over his response to the coronavirus crisis. |
| In a private conference call, he called the US handling of the pandemic "an absolute chaotic disaster". | |
| Mr Obama has said he wants to play a larger role supporting Joe Biden in the presidential election in November. | Mr Obama has said he wants to play a larger role supporting Joe Biden in the presidential election in November. |
| His new remarks were made in a call meant to encourage former staff to work for Mr Biden's campaign, CNN reports. | His new remarks were made in a call meant to encourage former staff to work for Mr Biden's campaign, CNN reports. |
| Mr Trump's approach to government was partly to blame for the US response to coronavirus, Mr Obama said. | |
| "It would have been bad even with the best of government," he was quoted as saying in the call. "It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindset -- of 'what's in it for me' and 'to heck with everybody else' -- when that mindset is operationalized in our government." | "It would have been bad even with the best of government," he was quoted as saying in the call. "It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindset -- of 'what's in it for me' and 'to heck with everybody else' -- when that mindset is operationalized in our government." |
| Mr Obama also strongly criticised the decision to drop criminal charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn during the Trump-Russia investigation. | Mr Obama also strongly criticised the decision to drop criminal charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn during the Trump-Russia investigation. |
| What is the coronavirus situation in the US? | What is the coronavirus situation in the US? |
| More than 77,000 people have now died and the US has 1.2m confirmed cases - both by far the highest in the world. | More than 77,000 people have now died and the US has 1.2m confirmed cases - both by far the highest in the world. |
| Many states introduced lockdown measures in March but have now lifted restrictions, allowing people to return to work. | Many states introduced lockdown measures in March but have now lifted restrictions, allowing people to return to work. |
| But health officials warn this may lead the virus to spread further. | But health officials warn this may lead the virus to spread further. |
| Mr Trump's approach to the pandemic has oscillated. In February he dismissed the threat, saying it would disappear, but by mid-March he acknowledged its severity. | Mr Trump's approach to the pandemic has oscillated. In February he dismissed the threat, saying it would disappear, but by mid-March he acknowledged its severity. |
| In April he suggested that ingesting disinfectant could be a preventative - something experts immediately rejected. | In April he suggested that ingesting disinfectant could be a preventative - something experts immediately rejected. |
| Last week he announced he would close down his government's coronavirus task force but later said it is re-focusing on opening the economy. | Last week he announced he would close down his government's coronavirus task force but later said it is re-focusing on opening the economy. |