posted September 11, 2024 09:10 AM            

During the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, Harris criticized Trump for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly his relationship with China. She pointed out that Trump had publicly praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for his initial response to COVID-19 in January 2020, thanking him for his "efforts and transparency." Harris argued that this was misguided, as Xi had failed to provide transparency about the virus's origins. Her comments reignited discussions about the origins of COVID-19, with some interpreting her remarks as acknowledging the possibility of the virus originating in a lab, though this was not explicitly stated.

Following her statements, right-wing figures, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., seized on her words, claiming that Harris had inadvertently validated the "lab leak" theory—a theory initially dismissed but later given some credibility by U.S. agencies. This led to renewed debate about COVID-19's origins, with critics calling for an acknowledgment of earlier claims about China that were previously labeled as conspiracies. Harris' comments aimed at attacking Trump’s praise of Xi inadvertently fueled a separate discussion on the virus's origins, illustrating the ongoing political sensitivity around the