Trump: Johnson requested ventilators ‘before saying hello’
The UK’s Telegraph reported on President Donald Trump’s claim that British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who, earlier this week tested positive for coronavirus, told the President “we need ventilators” and that, contrary to his usual manners and decorum, did so “before he even said hello.”
Boris Johnson asked US for ventilators, Donald Trump claims
Donald Trump has claimed that Boris Johnson asked the United States to provide Britain with ventilators to fight the coronavirus.
The US president claimed Mr Johnson asked for American assistance in a phone call on Friday. Mr Trump wished the Prime Minister well after it was revealed earlier in the day that he had tested positive for coronavirus. Mr Trump also said that the US would provide ventilators for the rest of the world.
He said: “Boris Johnson was asking for ventilators today. As you know, Boris, unfortunately he’s tested positive, and it’s a terrible thing. But he’s going to be great, I’m sure he’s going to be totally great.
“But they want ventilators. Italy wants ventilators. Spain wants ventilators. Germany wants ventilators. They’re all calling for ventilators. Well we’re going to make a lot of ventilators and we’ll take care of our needs, but we’re also going to help other countries.”
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Boris Johnson appears to have been thrown under the bus by the American President here, who’s summary of the phone call makes it seem like the British PM was effectively pleading with the US President to get ventilators.
It is unlikely that Johnson would have made this request “before he even said hello” if at all. It is well established that the USA is on course to require many thousands more ventilators than the UK.
Both countries are ramping up production of the life-saving devices, in order to cope with a sharp peak demand, after they both initially played down the virus in the early stages, effectively allowing it to spread unchecked, despite the clear warning signs emanating from China, Italy and Spain about what happens if the virus spreads through a population quickly.
Also see:
- The ventilators the NHS needs going into mass production – and it’s not from Dyson
- Is UK able to produce enough ventilators?
- Is this the answer to UK’s Ventilator shortage?