Today In History: Trump Says China Is 'Raping' US; Obama Urges Precautions Over H1N1 Virus

May 2, 2017, is the 122nd day of the year, with 243 days remaining. The moon is in a waxing crescent phase, and illumination is at 43 percent.

Trump: “We can’t allow China to rape our country”

Earlier in 2016, Donald Trump warned during a Republican presidential debate that if China didn’t “behave,” he planned to impose tariffs of 45 percent on exports to the United States, this in an effort to force the Republic to change its trade policies. Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei called Trump an “irrational type” and said America “wouldn’t be entitled to world leadership” if it followed Trump’s proposed trade policies. Jiwei also noted the proposed tariff would violate World Trade Organization rules.

During a rally on May 2 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Trump upped the ante on his rhetoric surrounding America’s largest trading partner.

“We can’t allow China to rape our country,” he told his supporters. “That's what they're doing. It's the greatest theft in the history of the world.”

Obama administration addresses H1N1 virus

In 2009, the newly detected H1N1 virus was discovered to be a unique combination of influenza virus genes which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was never previously identified in animals or people. Infection was first detected in a 10-year-old patient in California.

In May, former President Barack Obama discussed the government’s response to the H1N1 flu virus, urging Americans to be calm but cautious.

“…the Centers for Disease Control has recommended that schools and child care facilities with confirmed cases of the virus close for up to 14 days,” Obama said.

“It is why we urge employers to allow infected employees to take as many sick days as necessary. If more schools are forced to close, we’ve also recommended that both parents and businesses think about contingency plans if children do have to stay home.”

The president urged citizens to keep their hands washed, cover their mouths when coughing, stay home from work if sick and keep their children home from school if sick. The Obama administration also launched social media pages to support the ongoing efforts of the CDC through regular updates to the public.

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Photo credit: Obama White House via Flickr