Trump privately appeals to Asia and Europe for medical help to fight coronavirus

[Bernardo de La Paz]

Source: Guardian

Despite president’s rhetoric that the US would not rely on foreign nations for help, the administration has approached European and Asian partners

...

On Tuesday, Trump spoke by phone with the South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, asking if his country could supply medical equipment.

...

“Depending on critical needs, the United States could seek to purchase many of these items in the hundreds of millions with purchases of higher end equipment such as ventilators in the hundreds of thousands,” an email sent to embassies in Europe and Eurasia said.

...

On March 18, the Defense One military news site reported that the US air force had quietly flown half a million nasal swabs from Italy to Memphis, where they were distributed around the country.




Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/trump-privately-appeals-to-asia-and-europe-for-medical-help-to-fight-coronavirus

---

tRump is flailing.

He's getting desperate ... while denying supplies on hand to blue states.

[Mike 03]

1. This is somewhat of a big deal

Trump doesn't have the personality type that would normally ask others for help, least of all countries he's previously insulted or demeaned.

I agree with the OP that this could well signal desperation. I wish he'd ask China (or Singapore or Hong Kong), since they are experts on this and are currently providing emergency crews with expertise and medical equipment to hard-hit countries like Italy and Spain.

[kiri]

7. was Italy's arm-twisted?

"the US air force had quietly flown half a million nasal swabs from Italy to Memphis"

weird--Italy needs all the help it can get. Why would they give up 500,000 swabs?

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. Italy is the primary manufacturer of the specialized swabs. Nt

[titaniumsalute]

19. The largest producer of swabs in the world is in Lombardy Italy

[kiri]

30. swabs in Egypt and Minsk, Belorussia

You may have forgotten that Egyptian cotton is not counted in making medical stuff.

Don't blame me! The notion that cotton products from Egypt , Kazakhstan, gogd knows --where we are exempted is idiotic.

<<Nor is Ten million people died during the Depression. The economic fallout is far deadlier than this virus will ever be. #ReopenAmerica cotton made into swabs

Are you claiming that the Putin Belio-rus conglomerate is not aid and abetting the Trump virus threat to the USA?

[Marcuse]

15. He ain't too proud to beg foreign leaders to support his political and personal interests.

The call to the Australian PM is even worse than the one to the President of Mexico.

PEÑA NIETO
This what I suggest, Mr. President – let us stop talking about the wall. I have recognized the right of any government to protect its borders as it deems necessary and convenient. But my position has been and will continue to be very firm saying that Mexico cannot pay for that wall.

TRUMP
But you cannot say that to the press. The press is going to go with that and I cannot live with that. You cannot say that to the press because I cannot negotiate under those circumstances.

[link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/politics/australia-mexico-transcripts/|

[Phoenix61]

2. Effing pathetic.

I wonder how much of this global shit show is due to the CDC being scaled back so far. How many counties relied on the US to sound the alarm? Is this just one more way Twitler has destroyed our place in the world?

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Trump lacks any understanding of the hard goods economy

Manufacture, distribution, laws, and the government regulatory process. He's totally about PR, entertainment, and glitz.

So he seeks deals that don't exist to solve his own political problems.

[The Magistrate]

6. True, Ma'am

He is a real estate speculator and money launderer. Strictly speaking, that is not really 'business'....

[ancianita]

4. Mr. "I Alone Can Fix America" will be the death of us, and those countries know he's a backstabber

[SunSeeker]

5. Trump has made us a supplicant nation. nt

[IcyPeas]

27. I heard him use that word at yesterdays presser

an immediate give-a-way that he didn't write it.

[SunSeeker]

43. Yes. And the irony was obviously lost on him. nt

[stillcool]

9. god forbid the equipment was made here...

this is effed up beyond comprehension. In what world does this shit make sense?

[gibraltar72]

10. Maybe quit calling them names first.

[NCjack]

11. ".... the US air force had quietly flown half a million nasal swabs

from Italy to Memphis, where they were distributed around the country."

Trump said the US Gov is not in the purchasing, transport business.

Just another lie.

[rurallib]

12. Didn't he just offer to help his buddy on North Korea just a few days ago?

And somebody else also?

Does he even have a clue what is going on?

Gawd Almighty, if he took help from one country and gave it to his bud in North Korea, I would think there would be hell to pay.

[liberalmuse]

13. Cuomo's presser (what I was able to view) this a.m. is encouraging.

It appears as though the WH is working with him. I feel a sense of relief. I hope Trump does not crush that today in his own presser.

[iluvtennis]

14. Ex husband is Italian and he keeps up on Italian news as his family is still there. He said the

Italian people weren't happy with the sell of the 500K swabs to the US.

He read Italian news reported that a company in Brescia, Italy sold the swabs to a private US company. The article said that the US Air Force plan was used to make the transport because commercial aircraft was unavailable. The article didn't say it, but my ex suspects that the private US company will sell the swabs here for a big profit.

Here is a snippet of article he translated for me, I also included picture of the US Air Force jet with the 13 pallets of swab next to it on the ground at the Italian Air Base.

Through its Active, Reserve, and Air National Guard components, Air Mobility Command stands ready to do everything possible to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and ensure we continue executing rapid global mobility operations.

Yesterday, as part of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-led, whole-of-government effort, AMC transported a shipment of 13 pallets containing 500,000 COVID-19 sampling swabs aboard a 164th Airlift Wing C-17 Globemaster III from Aviano Air Base, Italy, to the Memphis, TN, Air National Guard Base.


p.s. Trying to get a link from my ex of the full Italian newspaper article

[NBachers]

18. So now we actually are a shipping clerk so a private company can profit off this misery.

[IronLionZion]

31. When this is over, I hope the GOP is merely a footnote in history books

of a former political party that has since been disbanded permanently

[Harker]

44. As do I.

It seems more likely to me that there's a name change coming.

They've ruined the current one for a very long time.

[MFGsunny]

35. not from Italian newspaper, but link below may give some leads

It all happened around 16-17 March 2020.
Memphis is also a hub for Fed-Ex.

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2020/03/us-air-force-flew-half-million-coronavirus-test-kits-italy-tennessee/163879/

[iluvtennis]

37. Thanks for this post. Very interesting that the article doesn't mention a private US company bought

the swabs.

More info from Italy newspapers is here - https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213172705

[MFGsunny]

38. I found it interesting myself, as article source defenseone is rated as "left" bias.

THANKS for other lead from La Repubblica.

[MFGsunny]

40. Found the company in Italy and its USA one.

copangroup.com (Italy with company start-up history)

copanusa.com (USA)

Interesting info @ both websites.



Found source from Business Insider

The US Air Force has flown roughly a million coronavirus test swabs to the US from Italy to support domestic testing, Air Mobility Command said Friday.
The US purchased the swabs from Italian company Copan Diagnostics and flew them to the US aboard C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft.
There have been two missions so far, both this week, and more are projected for the future.

https://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-flew-coronavirus-test-swabs-to-us-from-italy-2020-3

[iluvtennis]

42. Thanks for the additional info. I had also read on the Italy side that Copan has USA

subsidiary.

What's interesting is that Italy hid this the details of the purchase from it's people and US his it from us. My spidey senses go up and tell me something stealthy was going on for them to do all of the hiding.

Thanks for your sleuthing as well.

[AllyCat]

16. Are any of these countries even "partners" anymore after

3 years of abuse from this bully?

[NRaleighLiberal]

17. an epic fail can only flail.

[Toorich]

20. ...........Refueling in Scotland......

...... at the Mom and Pop gas station/convenience store. Right up the
street from the Tangerine Turd Golf and Country Club, where the flight crew
will pay $1200 each to spend the night.

[Talitha]

21. Who owns the company that will benefit from overpricing the swabs?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. That's why it is being done so on the quiet. . . . nt

[iluvtennis]

28. Agree...they are not telling us what is really going on. Trying to get that Italian newspaper

article from my ex to see if any mention is made of the private US company.

[world wide wally]

23. I have to admit that he's the best President they ever had...

In the Confederate States of America

[bronxiteforever]

24. Kick

[scrabblequeen40]

25. Trumpettes should be scared. It's their demographic that dies first.

[RoadRunner]

26. He should ask the ones he called shithole countries.

They seem to be doing better than we are.

[Thekaspervote]

29. He's asking foreign countries wanting to turn a profit for himself

He knows he won’t make any money by enacting the war powers act here in the US!

Nothing humanitarian about it!!

[IronLionZion]

32. The Italian company is Copan Diagnostics

They don't want us to know the American company yet

https://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-flew-coronavirus-test-swabs-to-us-from-italy-2020-3

[iluvtennis]

33. I also posted some related info here on DU - link is...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213172705

[EarthFirst]

34. This is why Shitler has been so adamant on Governor's sourcing their own supply chains...

...it’s not there for him to offer that states. Period.

The way this has been handled at the federal level is nearing human rights violations.

Criminal.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

39. If the states have to compete, they bid up the price. More profit for tRump's friend company. . . nt

[BobTheSubgenius]

36. You could cut the irony with a knife! nt

[burrowowl]

41. Kick