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The director-general of the World Health Organization praised President Trump’s “political commitment” to preventing the spread of coronavirus as the global community works to “suppress and control” the pandemic.

Asked about Trump’s handling of the pandemic during a press conference Wednesday, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the crisis needed “leadership.”

“And that’s exactly what he is doing, which we appreciate. Because fighting this pandemic needs political commitment and commitment at the highest level possible,” Tedros said.

“But not only the whole-of-government approach, but the other [things] like expanding testing and the other recommendations we are making are also in play, and he takes that seriously and that is what we see.”

Tedros, who added that he and the commander-in-chief had spoken recently, went on to say, “I believe that kind of political commitment and political leadership can bring change or can stop this pandemic.”

During that same press conference, the WHO director-general warned against nations lifting their coronavirus lockdowns for the sake of economic salvation, saying the virus would only re-emerge as a result.

“We understand that these countries are now trying to assess when and how to ease these measures,” Tedros said. “The answer depends on what countries do while these wide measures are in place.”