Trump: "Korea Surprised by US Testing... COVID-19 Vaccine Development by Year-End" (Comprehensive)

President Moon Praised South Korea in Phone Call... Caution Toward South Korea in Domestic Media
"If Any Country Developed a Vaccine Before the US, I Would Express Respect"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump said, "I think South Korea is incredible in its testing for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)." He also predicted that the U.S. would develop a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year.

President Trump made these remarks on the 3rd (local time) while attending Fox News' virtual town hall meeting held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. His comments came amid self-praise regarding his administration's response to COVID-19. Vice President Mike Pence and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also participated in the event.

Earlier, during a Fox News virtual town hall on March 25, President Trump claimed, "The U.S. testing is better than South Korea's." The reason for this claim was that the U.S. had conducted more tests in the past eight days than South Korea had in two months. President Trump has repeatedly asserted during White House COVID-19 task force briefings that the U.S. has conducted more tests than South Korea.

While President Trump praised South Korea's COVID-19 response during a phone call with President Moon Jae-in, he has expressed different views when dealing with domestic media.

According to the Blue House, during a phone call on the 18th, President Trump congratulated President Moon Jae-in on the ruling Democratic Party's election victory and referred to South Korea's COVID-19 response as "the best model." In a call on March 24, he also said, "South Korea has done an excellent job in responding to COVID-19," and requested support for medical equipment.

President Trump also emphasized that the U.S. would lead vaccine development, stating, "We will have a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year." He added, "The U.S. has been ahead in vaccine history so far. If any country develops one before us, I will take off my hat and pay my respects."