White House spokeswoman defends Trump's claim coronavirus could have come from Wuhan lab

Updated: November 18, 2024 - 8:16am

<p>Kayleigh McEnany, in her new role asWhite House Press Secretary, said Friday that President Donald Trump's comments that the coronavirus could have come from a laboratory in Wuhan, China was consistent with intelligence reports he had received.</p><p>"I would note that intelligent sources you're referring to really made two points: one that this virus originated in China and that it began through contact with infected animals or was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan. So I consider that consistent with what the president said," McEnany said.</p><p>The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a rare statement Thursday that the virus is "not man-made or genetically modified," but announced its intel agencies are investigating whether the outbreak could be "the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan."</p><p>The president said Thursday he has seen evidence that the Wuhan Institute is responsible for the outbreak, but did not elaborate.</p><p>Asked if he had seen anything that gave him a "high degree of confidence" the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the president said: "Yes I have. Yes I have."</p><p>Asked what that evidence was, he said: "I can't tell you that. I'm not allowed to tell you that."</p><p>McEnany took over the key White House spokeswoman job last month.</p>