SOCIALIST presidential candidate Bernie Sanders slammed Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday, calling him the "most dangerous president."

Speaking in an interview with MSNBC, Sanders said Trump "totally minimized the danger facing the people of our country," as virus cases soared past 190,000.

5 Bernie Sanders slammed Donald Trump as the 'most dangerous President' Credit: Getty Images - Getty

5 Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic was criticized by Sanders Credit: AP:Associated Press

"We have a president who should have listened to what the scientists were telling us - that there was a pandemic coming," the Vermont senator told Andrea Mitchell.

"I think it is clear, he was on television a million times saying don't worry about it."

Sanders, who is pushing the Democratic Party toward a more European-style socialist platform, went on to say Trump's handling of the crisis is unrelated to his impeachment, after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blamed the Democrats for distracting Trump in the early weeks of the pandemic.

He also said Trump must comply with a portion of the $2.2 trillion relief bill that mandates a special Inspector General oversees how the $500 billion in loans would be given to large businesses.

"This is why he is such a dangerous president - he can't say 'I don't like that position. I'm not going to abide by it.' That's wrong," Sanders said, after Trump suggested he would not comply with oversight.

5

5 'We have a president who should have listened to what the scientists were telling us-that there was a pandemic coming,' Sanders said Credit: EPA

5 Trump shows off a new coronavirus test kit from Abbott Laboratories during a COVID-19 press briefing Credit: Reuters

"That’s not acceptable. There must be accountability. There must be an inspector general.

"He will abide by it. He cannot spend money willy-nilly any way he wants," Sanders said.

The senators comments came after Trump admitted he downplayed virus fears because he wanted "to give hope" to the nation.

“This is going to be one of the roughest two or three weeks we've ever had in our country. We're going to lose thousands of people," Trump said Tuesday, as experts warned the death toll could reach 240,000.

Trump had previously said the virus will "disappear" and said he wanted the country to re-open by Easter amid widespread lockdowns.

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“Nothing would be worse than declaring victory before the victory is won,” Trump said.

States across the U.S. are preparing for a continued rise in cases, as New York – which remains the nation's epicenter – is bracing for a peak in coming weeks.

Video from inside one Brooklyn hospital shows patients lined up in beds in the hallway as the center reached capacity, as one doctor described it as a "medical war zone."

Bernie Sanders says Donald Trump has downplayed the threat of the coronavirus crisis

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