Former US President Donald Trump told a US media outlet that there is "no doubt" COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab.
"I think it was obvious to smart people that's where it came from, I have no doubt about it," Trump said in an interview with Newsmax.
Trump said the US media condemned him because of his views on China.
"I was criticised by the press because China has a lot of people taken care of. They took care of Hunter, they took care of Joe. They took care of everybody, didn't they?
And people didn't want to say China, It's always Russia, Russia, Russia."
The Newsmax reporter asked Trump if it is important for the United States to make China "pay a real penalty" for what they "lied to the world about" regarding the virus.
"Well we have to be stronger than what we are right now...what's going on is just very unfortunate.
"You know I put massive taxes and tariffs on China, we took in tens of billions of dollars and they're [current Government] talking about taking them off. You look at the military [China is] building, it's going to be, you know it's so big what they are doing," Trump said.
The former President added that the Chinese Government is using money from the US for their projects.
Trump said what he did with China was "incredible" and his Government really "set them back".
He quickly added he didn't want to set them back and he wants everyone around the world to do well.
"Our farmers did well, the deal I made with China was incredible for our farmers and for manufacturers and for everybody else and you see that."
Just last week the Chinese American Civil Rights Coalition announced they were suing the former President for his repeated use of the phrases "China virus", "Wuhan virus" and "Kung Flu virus" during the COVID-19 pandemic.