It’s true. The URL COVID.gov was hijacked. If you click COVID.gov, you will be taken to a White House page. The words “LAB LEAK” will flash at you as Trump walks toward you. The page once existed on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). When it was a CDC page, it was a page that provided lots of information about COVID-19. Now, controlled by White House luminaries, it claims that the “true origin” of COVID-19 is the Lab Leak theory.
The problem with the White House page is that it is not based on what we know about the virus. This virus killed more than 1 million Americans. It also killed nearly 15 million people worldwide. There is no evidence that the coronavirus escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China. There is no evidence that the coronavirus was engineered and then exposed to humans. There is speculation that there was leak. There is no documented evidence for this. The preponderance of evidence is that the coronavirus spilled over into humans through a naturally occurring animal-to-human transmission (Alwine et al. 2024)
COVID.gov: Before and After Trump
Fortunately, there is a way to find out what the web page COVID.gov was before the Trump administration stole it from the CDC. That is done by using the Wayback Machine. It’s an internet archive of over 900 billion web pages saved over time. If you click this COVID.gov link, you will see what the CDC posted about COVID-19 before January 20, 2025.
Figure 2 was designed, researched, and written by scientists at the CDC. The website is intended as a toolkit for us to learn about COVID-19. It includes links to vaccines, treatment, testing, and updates on Long COVID. There are links to special resources, including symptoms and care, people with certain medical conditions, respiratory illness, at-home testing, cleaner air, and the Long COVID study
Figure 3 is a blatant example of the Trump administration’s war on truth. Politicians and their colleagues designed it. They served on a House Select committee to examine the pandemic’s origins. Yet, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Donald Trump failed as a leader of the American people. His negligence, lying, and disrespect for science caused hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Origin of COVID-19
The origin of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, remains uncertain. Yet, the prevailing scientific consensus points to the zoonosis hypothesis. The virus emerged in the human population through a naturally occurring animal-to-human transmission. ? The Hunan seafood market in Wuhan, China, is considered a potential site for the spillover. Early cases were linked to the market. It is estimated that approximately 66,280 people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 each year due to human-to-bat contact. Most of these infections result in asymptomatic cases (Alwine et al.). Alwine also reports that in the last 25 years, there have been at least 12 instances of zoonotic transfer. These instances involve viruses moving into humans. This includes three coronaviruses that resulted in epidemics or pandemics.
Supporting the zoonotic theory can be risky. Last June, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former Director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), testified voluntarily. He addressed the House subcommittee, which was investigating the COVID-19 pandemic. At the subcommittee meeting, he was asked about the origins of COVID-19. Members of the subcommittee attacked Fauci. He was interrupted, and comments made to him were contentious, disrespectful, and unfounded. There were calls to have him prosecuted and imprisoned for “crimes against humanity.” During his service as Director of NIAID, he faced significant threats. Both he and his family were targeted with hostile texts, phone calls, and mail. It was so serious that President Biden approved security for his family. Trump removed the security detail as soon as he reentered the White House.
Some have speculated about a laboratory origin. This includes accidental release from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Investigations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Intelligence Community have found this scenario to be “.” ? Most scientists support the natural origin hypothesis. They base their support on genetic analysis and earlier research on coronaviruses like SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. ?Fauci testified that the scientific evidence points to the emergence of zoonosis in humans. Improbable. According to 41 authors of the paper cited below, the evidence points to a natural zoonotic spillover.
The evidence supports the scenario that two distinct ancestral lineages of SARS-CoV-2 jumped from animals into humans. The Huanan Seafood Market is located in Hubei Provence, China. Wild animals were routinely found and slaughtered there. It was the epicenter of the pandemic. Notably, Dr. Fauci acknowledged that he remains open to evidence supporting a lab leak if it becomes available. Indeed, all scientists must be open to this possibility. Scientists must consider new data that are sound and validated. This remains true even if it contradicts a prevailing hypothesis. This consideration is an essential aspect of scientific training. A critical guiding principle of science is that knowledge is continually revised and updated based on quality new evidence.
Source: James Alwine, et al. The harms of promoting the lab leak hypothesis for SARS-CoV-2 origins without evidence https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.01240-24
Evidence for Natural Spillover Theory vs Lab Leak Theory
This is a summary of the two theories of COVID-19’s origins. It is based on earlier work published in The Trump Files (2022). I believe that the Trump administration has deceived the American people about the origin of COVID-19. Here is a comparison of the two ideas that should be front and center of any publication about SARS-CoV-2.
Natural Spillover Theory
Here are several pieces of evidence supporting the natural spillover theory of SARS-CoV-2:
- Genetic Similarity to Bat Coronaviruses: SARS-CoV-2 shares significant genetic similarities with coronaviruses found in bats. This suggests bats are reservoir hosts. ? Research has identified novel bat coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2. ?
- Zoonotic Spillover History: Earlier coronaviruses, like SARS-CoV (2002) and MERS-CoV (2012), originated from animals. They spread to humans through zoonotic spillover events. ? This pattern supports the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 emerging through a similar process. ?
- Environmental Sampling at Huanan Market: Sampling from the Huanan market in Wuhan revealed widespread contamination with SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces. This indicates the virus has spread through infected animals or contaminated products. ? Wildlife products sold at the market, like raccoon dogs, are known to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. ?
- WHO Investigation Findings: A WHO-led study was conducted in 2021. It concluded that direct zoonotic spillover is a pathway for the virus’s origin. Another pathway is introduction through an intermediate host. The report found no evidence of a lab leak. It emphasized the role of wildlife markets in the early spread of the virus.
- Scientific Consensus: Multiple peer-reviewed studies reaffirm the natural origin hypothesis, citing genetic analysis and evolutionary patterns. Research published in Nature Medicine suggests SARS-CoV-2 evolved naturally in a bat host. Later, it spilled over into humans.?
- Historical Precedent: Pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 often emerge through spillover events from animals to humans, as seen with other zoonotic diseases. ? Human encroachment into wildlife habitats increases the likelihood of such events. ?
- Absence of Lab Evidence: Studies have found no credible evidence that SARS-CoV-2 was known to virologists before 2019. There is also no credible evidence that it was manipulated in a lab before its emergence in 2019. ?
These points collectively support the natural spillover theory as the most origin of SARS-CoV-2. ?
The United States government has failed its citizens. It did not incorporate science into its understanding of the COVID pandemic. This failure resulted in millions of deaths.
Lab Leak Theory
SARS-CoV-2 has accidentally escaped from a laboratory. One example is the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which conducts research on coronaviruses. ? Key points from the document about this theory include:
- Hypothesis: The theory suggests that the virus has been released due to a laboratory accident. This includes mishandling, experimentation, or sampling of coronaviruses. ? Some proponents have speculated that the virus have been engineered or weaponized, though these claims lack scientific evidence. ?
- US Intelligence Report: A 2021 investigation by the US Intelligence Community was conducted. They concluded that a natural exposure to an infected animal is a plausible origin. The report suggested that the origin is due to natural exposure. It is considered plausible that natural exposure to an infected animal is the origin. A laboratory-associated incident is also a plausible origin. ?Yet, one group assessed the lab-leak hypothesis with moderate confidence, citing the inherently risky nature of coronavirus research. ?
- WHO Investigation: The WHO-led study in 2021 found the lab-leak scenario “extremely unlikely.” Nevertheless, it acknowledged limited access to documents and data from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. ? Some scientists expressed concerns about the transparency of the investigation. ?
- Circumstantial Evidence: Reports emerged that three workers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalized in November 2019. They exhibited symptoms akin to COVID-19. ? Nonetheless, no antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were found among lab workers during the investigation. ?
- Media and Political Influence: The lab-leak theory gained traction in the media. The Trump administration promoted it partly as a way to deflect criticism of its handling of the pandemic. ? The theory has been amplified by conspiracy theories and anti-science rhetoric. ?
- Scientific Consensus: Most scientists and peer-reviewed studies favor the natural zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2. They cite genetic evidence. Historical patterns of spillover events also support this. ? No scientific studies have provided data supporting the lab-leak theory. ?
The lab-leak theory remains a topic of debate. Nonetheless, the document emphasizes that it lacks significant evidence. Most experts and investigations consider it unlikely.
The Trump White House has published a misleading analysis of the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
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