President Donald Trump insists his administration’s response to the novel coronavirus outbreak has been exemplary -- and he won’t accept anyone saying otherwise.

On Friday, he admitted he’s trying to undercut Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee’s credibility.

“I told [Vice President Mike Pence] not to be complimentary of that governor because that governor is a snake,” Trump said at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. “So Mike may be happy with him, but I’m not, OK?”

Pence is heading up the administration’s efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S.

Washington is the state that’s been hit hardest by the outbreak. There have been 12 coronavirus deaths in the state so far, most in the Seattle area, and Clark County just announced its first coronavirus case.

Inslee, who unsuccessfully ran for president last year to highlight the need for more action on climate change, has criticized what he considers the Trump administration’s anti-science attitude on various issues. Referring to the coronavirus outbreak, he tweeted last month that he told Pence “our work would be more successful if the Trump administration stuck to the science and told the truth.”

Trump on Friday also said he’s quickly become an expert on the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

“I like this stuff. I really get it,” he said. “People are really surprised I understand this stuff. Every one of these doctors said, ‘How do you know so much about this?’ Maybe I have a natural ability.”

-- Douglas Perry

@douglasmperry

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