Biden accuses self-styled 'wartime president' Trump of raising white flag over coronavirus

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In remarks at a campaign event in Darby, Pennsylvania, Joe Biden delivered a scathing attack on President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The former vice president said that while Mr Trump styles himself as a wartime president against an invisible enemy, unlike other wartime leaders "he takes no responsibility, he exercises no leadership, and now he's just flat surrendering the fight".

“Instead of leading the charge to defeat the virus, he just basically waved a white flag and has retreated,” Mr Biden said.

The Democratic candidate also said that the president is not up to the task of handling the Covid-19 response, or apparently doesn’t care, and has now decided that he doesn’t want to try.

“Just like he couldn’t wish it away in March, just like he couldn’t tweet it away in April, he can’t ignore it away in June,” said Mr Biden.

The event was focussed on how to make sure the country's reopening is safe, effective, and gets Americans back to work. Mr Biden stressed this was not a debate about whether to reopen, but about how to make it work for everyone.

He noted how daily testing and other protections were in place for employees at the White House and said he had some basic questions for the president.

Mr Biden asked what Mr Trump was going to do to make sure every worker has access to regular testing; why schools and childcare facilities are under-resourced; and why standards for worker protection during the pandemic were not being enforced.

The event was focussed on how to make sure the country's reopening is safe, effective, and gets Americans back to work. Mr Biden stressed this was not a debate about whether to reopen, but about how to make it work for everyone.

He noted how daily testing and other protections were in place for employees at the White House and said he had some basic questions for the president.

The former vice president asked what Mr Trump was going to do to make sure every worker has access to regular testing; why schools and childcare facilities are under-resourced; and why standards for worker protection during the pandemic were not being enforced.

Turning to economic aspects of the pandemic response, Mr Biden asked why the small business lending program approved by Congress two months ago had only opened for registration two days ago. He also asked why the names of the companies that received $500bn in taxpayer money were not being disclosed.

Leaning forward and looking straight into the camera, addressing the president directly, he asked why Mr Trump had got rid of the inspector general tasked with overseeing the distribution of relief funds.

“Why did you get rid of that person?” he asked. “What are you trying to hide?”