Donald Trump has spoken in public for the first time since Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
The lame-duck president - who has not yet conceded the election - was giving an update on ‘Operation Warp Speed’ - the plan to create, make and distribute Covid-19 vaccines and treatments.
Speaking in the White House's Rose Garden about the coronavirus response, Trump said: “This administration will not be going to a lockdown….whatever happens in the future - who knows which administration it'll be, I guess time will tell - but I can tell you this administration will not go to a lockdown.”
And he praised the ‘magnitude’ of the success of Operation Warp Speed, giving credit for the development of a vaccine to his administration.
He claimed: “No medical breakthrough of this scope or magnitude has ever been achieved this rapidly.”
Earlier this month, drug giant Pfizer announced breakthrough results of its vaccine, which showed 90% effectiveness against the virus, according to early analysis.
It signed an agreement for distribution of doses through the programme but did not receive Operation Warp Speed funding for research.
Trump referred to Covid-19 as the 'China virus' - something he has regularly done since the start of the pandemic, as the virus was first detected in China.
He said: “Operation Warp Speed is unequalled and unrivaled anywhere in the world.
“It’s been an incredible effort.”
He declined to answer questions from reporters at the end of the press conference.
