Trump Says US Coronavirus Outbreak Worse Than Pearl Harbor, 9/11: 'Could've Stopped In China'

President Donald Trump again described the ongoing COVID-19 onslaught on the United States as worse than Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

He added to this hyperbole by declaring the pandemic that's infected 1.26 million Americans and led to the deaths of 74,000 others is “the worst attack we've ever had.”

“We went through the worst attack we've ever had in our country,” said Trump at the Oval Office Wednesday. "This (COVID-19) is really the worst attack we've ever had. This is worse than Pearl Harbor. This is worse than the World Trade Center. There's never been an attack like this."

More than 2,400 Americans were killed when the Empire of Japan attacked U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941. Nearly 3,000 persons were killed in Al Qaeda's terror attacks in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. Of this total, 2,753 were killed at the World Trade Center in New York City.

"And it should've never happened," insisted Trump in referring to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It could've been stopped at the source. It could've been stopped in China. It should've been stopped right at the source, and it wasn't."

Trump's continuing spate of attacks on China as the witting or unwitting source of COVID-19 is an unvarnished attempt to curry favor with voters ahead of the election in November, according to some political analysts.

At the same time, continually assailing China for this sin deflects attention away from the administration's mishandling of the coronavirus crisis, especially Trump's dismissal of it as a lethal health threat in February and March.

Before blaming China for unleashing COVID-19 onto the world, Trump repeatedly took pains to praise China and its president, Xi Jinping, for their marvelous response to the crisis. In February, Trump said Xi handled the crisis "really well" and that Xi was doing "a very good job with a very, very tough situation."

Fact checkers report Trump made at least 12 public statements either praising Xi or China for their praiseworthy response to the COVID-19 crisis.

On January 24, Trump tweeted in praise of Xi: "China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!"

On February 7, Trump again praised Xi's handling of the crisis.

"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."