The U.S. government trusts Japan's commitment to prioritize public health as it prepares to host the Tokyo Olympics this summer amid the coronavirus pandemic, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday.
The remarks came after a major Japanese daily newspaper called for the cancellation of the Olympics in an editorial, adding to the controversy over Japan's plan to push ahead with the global sporting event despite being still unable to bring the pandemic under control.
"The government of Japan has stressed that public health remains a central priority. And so that is the commitment that they made to us and to other countries where they will have athletes attending the Olympics in just a few weeks," Jean-Pierre, deputy press secretary, told a news conference.