Trump accuses Democrats of 'hoax' for criticizing virus plan

President Donald Trump lashed out Friday at Democrats who have questioned his handling of the coronavirus threat, calling their criticism a fresh “hoax” designed to undermine his leadership.

At a political rally in SC, Trump sought to steal a number of the spotlight from his Democratic rivals who were campaigning over the state on the evening before its presidential primary.

Trump accused Democrats of “politicizing” the coronavirus threat and boasted about preventive steps he's ordered in an attempt to keep carefully the virus that started in China from spreading over the United States.

Shortly before Trump started out to speak, health officials confirmed another case of coronavirus in the U.S. in somebody who didn't travel internationally or have close contact with anyone who had the virus. The president didn't mention that news.

“They have no idea. They don't really have a clue. They can't even count their votes in Iowa,” Trump said, discussing issues that plagued the Democratic vote in the Iowa caucuses Feb. 3.

“They tried the impeachment hoax. ... That is their new hoax,” Trump said of Democratic denunciations of his administration's coronavirus response.

Some Democrats have said Trump could have acted sooner to bolster the U.S. response to the virus. Democratic and Republican lawmakers likewise have said his obtain yet another $2.5 billion to guard against the virus isn't enough. They've signaled they will provide substantially more funding.

Trump said Democrats want him to fail and argued that steps he's taken up to now have kept cases to a minimum and prevented virus deaths in the U.S.

“A virus that starts in China, bleeds its way into various countries all over the world, doesn't spread widely at all in america because of the first actions that myself and my administration took, against a lot of other wishes, and the Democrats' single talking point, and you view it, is that it's Donald Trump's fault,” he said.

The president acknowledged the virus could lead to deaths in the U.S., but said, “We're totally prepared.”

It had been the fourth time Trump had rallied his supporters just before a state's Democratic presidential nominating contest. He did so in Nevada the other day even though Republicans had canceled their presidential caucus showing allegiance to Trump. Likewise, SC GOP officials opted never to hold a primary this season. Trump also held rallies prior to the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.

The North Charleston, SC, crowd lapped it up when Trump sought their participation in an informal poll to determine which Democratic prospect would be the best opponent for him.

The crowd shouted for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who was simply virtually tied in Iowa and won contests in New Hampshire and Nevada, and booed the mention of former Vice President Joe Biden.

"I think Bernie's better to beat," Trump said.

Some state GOP leaders have urged Republican voters to participate in Saturday's Democratic primary to vote for Sanders.

Unlike the three earlier voting states, SC isn't considered a swing state. Trump defeated Hillary Clinton there by a lot more than 14 percentage points in 2016.

Following Saturday’s contest, greater than a dozen states vote in a few days on Super Tuesday.

Trump arrived in South Carolina by the end of a brutal week for the stock market as investors reacted to the coronavirus threat. Stocks sank again Friday after another wild day on Wall Street, extending a rout that handed the marketplace its worst week since October 2008, at the height of the financial meltdown.

Trump has linked his presidency to the markets through tweets and speeches often taking credit for each new saturated in the markets. Now, Trump is wanting to reassure Americans the economy continues to be strong while also theorizing that the Democratic candidates’ debate performances have spooked investors.

The virus has infected 83,000 persons globally and caused about 2,800 deaths.