In a fresh push to reshape the narrative around the COVID-19 pandemic, Republican US President Donald Trump has launched a new website under the White House banner that places blame for the origins of the virus on a lab leak in China.

The platform, which went live on Friday, also directs sharp criticism at Democratic former President Joe Biden, former US health official Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The site is openly sceptical of key public health measures taken during the pandemic, including mask mandates, social distancing, and lockdowns — moves that were widely adopted globally to contain the spread of the virus.
Notably, Trump began a 12-month process to withdraw the US from the WHO shortly after assuming office in January, citing dissatisfaction with the organisation’s pandemic response. At the time, the United States was the WHO’s largest financial contributor.

Fauci, Biden, and WHO officials have yet to issue a response to the allegations made on the website.

During his early days in office, Trump also stated that Fauci — who served as the face of America’s COVID-19 response — should fund his own security. This decision came amid threats directed at the long-time health official and saw the US government end its provision of protective services for him.

The debate over the origins of the virus remains unresolved. In January, a spokesperson for the CIA revealed that the agency assessed a lab leak as a more likely cause of the pandemic than natural transmission — though the assessment was made with “low confidence” and both theories remain under consideration.

Meanwhile, China’s government continues to reject the lab leak theory, stating that it has supported efforts to trace the virus’s origins through scientific research. Beijing has accused Washington of politicising the issue, particularly through the involvement of US intelligence agencies in the investigations. Chinese authorities have dismissed the lab leak theory as lacking credibility.

As discussions over the handling and origin of COVID-19 persist, Trump’s latest digital effort signals an attempt to reframe public perception — one that may shape both policy and political debate in the months ahead.

Melissa Enoch

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