U.S. President Donald Trump is escalating efforts to pin blame on China for unleashing a pandemic that has killed more than 66,000 Americans and is exploring ways to hold Beijing accountable, though his options are limited because of the potential economic consequences.
Trump and his aides sharpened their criticism of Beijing last week, demanding answers about the virus’s origin and hinting at possible retaliation. The president tweeted Friday that some U.S. television networks are "Chinese puppets,” while his super PAC unleashes anti-China ads and his top economic adviser issued his own warning.
"They have a lot to answer for, they’re going to be held accountable,” Larry Kudlow told CNBC on Friday. "How, what, when and why” is up to the president, he said.