The timeline below includes Trump’s remarks alongside US cases and other major events. COVID-19 case numbers for this post are taken from https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/, and there may be a lag between Trump’s statements and the day’s reported numbers.

Dec. 31 – World Health Organization first alerted to the existence of a new respiratory virus in China.

Jan. 3 – CDC Director Robert Redfield receives a call from a counterpart in China warning of COVID-19.

Jan. 5 – WHO publishes first Disease Outbreak News for COVID-19.

Jan. 8 – CDC issues first travel advisory, “alerting clinicians on January 8, 2020, to be on the look-out for patients with respiratory symptoms and a history of travel to Wuhan, China.”

Jan. 9 – Trump holds Ohio rally.

Jan. 12 – China shares genetic sequence of COVID-19.

Jan. 14 – WHO says evidence of human-to-human transmission is inconclusive. Trump holds Wisconsin rally.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China🇨🇳. pic.twitter.com/Fnl5P877VG — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 14, 2020

Jan. 18 – Trump receives a briefing from Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who said the President viewed him as “alarmist.” The briefing was by phone, as Trump was at Mar-a-Lago golfing for the weekend.

Jan. 19 – Trump golfs.

Jan. 21 – First reported case in the United States.

Jan. 22 – 1 case. WHO declares evidence of person to person transmission.

“We have it totally under control. … It’s going to be just fine.”

Jan. 23 – WHO issues global advisory.

WHO’s risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally…We know that there is human-to-human transmission in China, but for now it appears limited to family groups and health workers caring for infected patients. At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Jan. 24 – 2 cases.

China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020

Jan. 28 – Trump holds New Jersey rally.

Jan. 30 – 7 cases. First person-to-person transmission confirmed by CDC, indicating COVID-19 had been freely spreading for several days, possibly weeks. Trump holds Iowa rally.

“We think we have it very well under control. We have very little problem in this country at this moment — five. And those people are all recuperating successfully. But we’re working very closely with China and other countries, and we think it’s going to have a very good ending for it. So that I can assure you.”

Working closely with China and others on Coronavirus outbreak. Only 5 people in U.S., all in good recovery. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2020

Jan. 31 – 8 cases. China travel ban issued; US citizens and legal residents are exempt. HHS Secretary Azar declares public health crisis. There are 11,950 confirmed cases worldwide, 156 of which are outside of China spanning 19 nations.

Feb 1. – 8 cases. Trump golfs.

Feb 2. – 11 cases. China travel ban goes into effect.

Well, we pretty much shut it down coming in from China. We have a tremendous relationship with China, which is a very positive thing.

Feb. 5 – 11 cases. Trump’s impeachment trial ends as the Senate votes not to convict.

Feb. 7 – 11 cases. In tapes revealed in September 2020, Trump tells Bob Woodward about the severity of the virus.

It goes through air, Bob. That’s always tougher than the touch. The touch, you don’t have to touch things, right? But the air, you just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed. And so that’s a very tricky one. That’s a very delicate one. It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flus…This is more deadly. This is 5% versus 1%, and less than 1%. So this is deadly stuff.

Feb. 10 – 12 cases. Trump holds New Hampshire rally.

Now, the virus that we’re talking about having to do — you know, a lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat — as the heat comes in. Typically, that will go away in April. We’re in great shape though.

The virus, they’re working hard. Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.

Feb. 15 – 15 cases. Trump golfs.

Feb. 19 – 15 cases. Trump holds Arizona rally.

Feb. 20 – 15 cases. Trump holds Colorado rally.

Feb. 21 – 35 cases. Trump holds Nevada rally.

Feb. 24 – 53 cases. “CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart,” Trump will halt funding to the World Health Organization within two months.

The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. We are in contact with everyone and all relevant countries. CDC & World Health have been working hard and very smart. Stock Market starting to look very good to me! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2020

Feb. 25 – 57 cases.

Cryin’ Chuck Schumer is complaining, for publicity purposes only, that I should be asking for more money than $2.5 Billion to prepare for Coronavirus. If I asked for more he would say it is too much. He didn’t like my early travel closings. I was right. He is incompetent! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2020

Feb. 26 – 60 cases. Pence appointed leader of COVID-19 task force.

And again, when you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done.

Low Ratings Fake News MSDNC (Comcast) & @CNN are doing everything possible to make the Caronavirus look as bad as possible, including panicking markets, if possible. Likewise their incompetent Do Nothing Democrat comrades are all talk, no action. USA in great shape! @CDCgov….. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2020

Feb. 27 – 60 cases.

“Anti-Trump Network @CNN doing whatever it can to stoke a national Coronavirus panic. The far left Network pretty much ignoring anyone who they interview who doesn’t blame President Trump.” @trish_regan @FoxNews Media refuses to discuss the great job our professionals are doing! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2020

Feb. 28 – 63 cases. Trump holds South Carolina rally.

Now the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus…they are politicizing it. We did one of the great jobs, you see…this is their new hoax.

35,000 people on average die each year from the flu. Did anyone know that? 35,000, that’s a lot of people. It could go to 100,000, it could be 27,000. They say usually a minimum of 27, goes up to 100,000 people a year die. And so far we have lost nobody to coronavirus in the United States. Nobody. And it doesn’t mean we won’t and we are totally prepared. It doesn’t mean we won’t, but think of it. You hear 35 and 40,000 people and we’ve lost nobody and you wonder the press is in hysteria mode.

It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.

Feb. 29 – 68 cases. First American death.

I’ve gotten to know these professionals. They’re incredible. And everything is under control. I mean, they’re very, very cool. They’ve done it, and they’ve done it well. Everything is really under control.

Mar. 2 – 100 cases, 6 deaths.

We had a great meeting today with a lot of the great companies and they’re going to have vaccines, I think relatively soon.

Mar. 5 – 221 cases, 12 deaths.

Gallup just gave us the highest rating ever for the way we are handling the CoronaVirus situation. The April 2009-10 Swine Flu, where nearly 13,000 people died in the U.S., was poorly handled. Ask MSDNC & lightweight Washington failure @RonaldKlain, who the President was then? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2020

Mar. 6 – 319 cases, 15 deaths. Global cases surpass 100,000. Trump signs $8.3 billion funding bill for research.

Anybody that needs a test, gets a test. They’re there. They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful.

It’s an unforeseen problem, what a problem, came out of nowhere, but we’re taking care of it.

Mar. 7 – 435 cases, 19 deaths. Trump golfs.

No, I’m not concerned at all. No, we’ve done a great job with it.

…

[Holding rallies] doesn’t bother me at all and it doesn’t bother them at all.

Mar. 8 – 541 cases, 22 deaths. Trump golfs.

Mar. 9 – 704 cases, 26 deaths.

The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant. Surgeon General, “The risk is low to the average American.” — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020

So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020

Mar. 10 – 994 cases, 30 deaths.

We’re doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.

Mar. 11 – 1,301 cases, 38 deaths. WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Trump extends travel ban to most of Europe. The bans still do not apply to US citizens and legal residents.

Our team is the best anywhere in the world…and taking early intense action, we have seen dramatically fewer cases of the virus in the United States than are now present in Europe.

Mar. 13 – 2,183 cases, 48 deaths. Trump declares a national emergency.

I don’t take responsibility at all…

To this point, and because we have had a very strong border policy, we have had 40 deaths related to CoronaVirus. If we had weak or open borders, that number would be many times higher! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2020

Mar. 14 – 2,771 cases, 58 deaths. First widespread screenings at airports leads to mass confusion and several-hour wait times in crowded terminals.

This is unacceptable. The reactionary, poorly planned travel ban has left thousands of travelers at ORD forced into even greater health risk. @realdonaldtrump and @CBP: no one has time for your incompetence. Fully staff our airport right now, and stop putting Americans in danger. https://t.co/gswIaHwelx — Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) March 15, 2020

Mar. 16 – 4,596 cases, 87 deaths. Trump rates his handling a 10/10, echoing his self-rating on the handling of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

I’d rate [our response] a 10.

Mar. 17 – 6,346 cases, 110 deaths.

I’ve felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic.

The timeline of events is continued here.

Worldometer – Coronavirus, United States

The Business Insider – Trump reportedly dismissed January coronavirus warnings from Health Secretary Alex Azar as ‘alarmist’

CDC – First Travel-related Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Detected in United States

World Health Organization – Novel Coronavirus(2019-nCoV) Situation Report – 11, as of 31 January 2020

Axios – CDC confirms first U.S. person-to-person coronavirus transmission

The New York Times – Airports Reel as New Coronavirus Screening Goes into Effect

World Health Organization – WHO Timeline – COVID-19

Factcheck.org – Trump’s Statements About the Coronavirus

Politifact – ‘It’s going to disappear’: Trump’s changing tone on coronavirus

Snopes – Did Trump Golf, Hold Rallies After Learning About COVID-19 Threat?

World Health Organization – WHO Director-General’s statement on the advice of the IHR Emergency Committee on Novel Coronavirus

The Washington Post – The U.S. was beset by denial and dysfunction as the coronavirus raged

The New York Times – A Timeline of the Coronavirus Pandemic