'Kung Flu' jab at China

Donald Trump said he had to ask that coronavirus tests be slowed as testers were so efficient they turned up too many cases.

And Trump tried to score points with references such as the "Kung Flu" - a term many consider racist - and the "Chinese Virus" even as he opted to hold his first rally in 110 days despite concerns that it could spread the disease.

Trump told supporters at the rally that 25 million people in the United States were tested - far more than any other country.

But that number means "you're going to find more cases,'' he said in referring to why the United States is suffering so badly from the virus. "So I said to my people, 'Slow the testing down.' "

A White House official said later Trump was "obviously kidding."

No one laughs, however, at the fact that the coronavirus is known to have killed about 120,000 people in the United States and half a million worldwide.

Trump as usual did not bother with a mask - like most at the rally.

Trump also said his actions in blocking travelers from China and Europe helped save "hundreds of thousands of lives."

But he said the "radical fake news" media had not given him credit for doing what he called "a phenomenal job" responding to the virus, which rivals have said is the opposite of the truth.

In fact, Trump's response to the outbreak has sapped his popularity.