Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday accused China, Russia and Iran of carrying out disinformation campaigns related to the coronavirus pandemic, in what is an apparent effort to sow fear and confusion.
Speaking at the White House, Pompeo described the disinformation campaigns as being “pretty diffused,” saying that the government has seen individuals, as well as the three foreign adversaries, spread false information online.
“There are coordinated efforts to disparage what America is doing and our activity to do all the things President Trump has set into motion,” the secretary said during a press briefing on the coronavirus, standing next to Trump and his coronavirus task force.
“It is pretty diffused, unfortunately. But we have certainly seen it come from places like China, and Russia and Iran.”
Earlier in the press briefing, Pompeo indirectly cited propaganda that Chinese government officials have peddled in an effort to cast away doubt about the origins of the virus.