Trump thanks Boris Johnson for support throughout his bout of ‘China virus’

US president hails UK prime minister as ‘great guy’, during recovery from coronavirus infection

Donald Trump has said he is thankful for Boris Johnson’s support during his recovery from Coronavirus (Getty/PA)

A day after returning to the Oval Office and describing his recent infection with coronavirus as “a blessing from God”, Donald Trump has spoken of the “friendship and support” he has received from Boris Johnson, who also had the disease.

In a tweet which called Covid-19 “the China virus”, Mr Trump said he was looking forward to working with the British prime minister for “many years to come”.

Mr Trump returned to work in the White House on Wednesday, officials said, less than a week after he tested positive for the highly contagious disease.

Mr Trump tweeted: “Just spoke with Prime Minister @BorisJohnson of the United Kingdom. Very thankful for his friendship and support as I recovered from the China Virus. I am looking forward to working with him for many years to come, a great guy!”

Mr Trump’s return to work comes despite the US government’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s official advice stating those who have tested positive for Covid-19 should “Stay home until 14 days after last exposure and maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) from others at all times”.

Mr Trump’s doctor Sean Conley said the president has had no Covid-19 symptoms for more than 24 hours and has been fever-free for more than four days.

Since leaving hospital Mr Trump has renewed his attacks on China, repeatedly referring to the disease as the “China virus”.

In a video message he told US citizens: “You're not going to pay for it. It wasn't your fault that this happened. It was China's fault. And China is going to pay a big price... This was China's fault.”

Mr Trump has aimed to cast himself as a leader who has emerged stronger after his brush with the respiratory disease, suggesting he could be immune to it.

But he has faced criticism for downplaying the virus which has killed more than 210,000 Americans and left millions unemployed.

With over 40,000 cases being reported a day, Mr Trump told Americans not to fear the virus.

In contrast, Mr Johnson, who was admitted to the intensive care unit of St Thomas’s Hospital in London during his illness, took a two-week break to recover from the virus before returning to work and then hired a personal trainer to help him lose weight.