Biden attacks Trump’s virus response as inadequate

Joe Biden on Friday criticized President Donald Trump over his administration’s response to COVID-19, blaming him for the country’s testing shortage and accusing him of a lack of transparency.

“In times of crisis, the American people deserve a president who tells them the truth and takes responsibility. Unfortunately, President Trump has not been that president,” Mr. Biden told reporters on a 30-minute afternoon conference call that began shortly after Mr. Trump left the podium in the White House briefing room.

“He is falsely telling us he’s taking action he has not taken, promising results he’s not delivering, and announcing actions that he has not even ordered,” Mr. Biden said, adding that “the president has been behind the curve throughout this whole response.”

It was Mr. Biden’s most forceful and extended remarks on the subject to date, reflecting an effort to demonstrate his command of the issue and contrast himself with Mr. Trump.

The former vice president called on Mr. Trump to do more to ensure that Americans can be tested for COVID-19. He said there should be daily reports on the status of treatments and vaccines. And Mr. Biden said more should be done to prepare hospitals.

Experts warn U.S. medical facilities could be swamped with patients in coming weeks.

“We’re taking too damn long to decide whether or not to start to mobilize and build hospitals,” Mr. Biden said.

“They should be on the ground doing that right now.”

During the briefing, Mr. Biden occasionally spoke directly to Mr. Trump.

“Stop saying false things, will ya?” he said. “Stop saying false things that make you sound like a hero . ... Stop, stop, stop swerving between overpromising, buckpassing, and start delivering protection to our people.”

Mr. Biden said that he spends about seven hours each day making calls about the pandemic. He said he is in frequent contact with

House and Senate leaders, as well as with mayors and governors around the country, and his health and economic teams.

When campaign aides occasionally visit his house, he said, they put on masks and wear gloves.

On Friday, Mr. Biden also outlined some economic proposals to ease the huge financial toll of the crisis. He called for a surge of money into the economy, but also began laying out some parameters to prevent large corporations from taking advantage of a stimulus.