Jerry Falwell Jr., a staunch Trump ally and president of Liberty University, suggested on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends” on Friday morning that the coronavirus outbreak was orchestrated by North Korea and China to sabotage the president.
“You remember the North Korean leader promised us a Christmas present for America? Back in December,” he said. “Could it be they got together with China and this is that present? I don’t know. But it really is something strange going on.”
The hosts did little to push back on the claim, and Falwell appeared to double down on the allegations of biological warfare, sharing the segment on Twitter with the caption: “Could COVID-19 be the ‘Christmas Gift’ North Korea’s leadership promised America back in December?”
China, where the virus originated, has suffered far greater consequences from the virus than the U.S. both in terms of fatalities and economic impact. Neither public health officials nor members of the administration have mentioned the possibility of the virus being a case of retaliation from North Korea or China.
Earlier in the segment, Falwell said the media is fabricating coronavirus coverage so it appears it is a fault on the president’s leadership after former special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe and the president’s impeachment failed to remove him from office.
Falwell said on the segment he is not canceling classes on his campus as many other major universities have to avoid the spread of the virus.
Fox News did not respond to request for clarification from The Hill.