Trump says 'I don't kid' after White House claims his coronavirus testing comment was a joke

President Trump
(Image credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

The White House has insisted that a recent statement by President Trump about slowing down coronavirus testing was a joke, but now, Trump himself says, "I don't kid."

Trump on Tuesday was asked about his comment at his Tulsa rally over the weekend that he "said to my people, slow the testing down please" because "you're going to find more cases" when you conduct more COVID-19 testing. Asked if he was just joking about that, or if he really does intend to slow down testing, Trump told reporters, "I don't kid." He went on to repeat his claim that coronavirus testing is a "double-edged sword."

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.