Former US ambassador: We noticed ‘something strange’ in early days of coronavirus outbreak in China

Want to see more of NewsNation? Get 24/7 fact-based news coverage with the NewsNation app or add NewsNation as a preferred source on Google!

DES MOINES, Iowa (WHO-TV) — Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has a unique view of the pandemic. He was the U.S. ambassador to China when the coronavirus broke out. Branstad said the Chinese government hid information at different levels early on. 

NewsNation affiliate WHO-TV Political Director Dave Price spoke with Branstad about what it was like in the first few weeks after the virus emerged in China. 

Watch the discussion in the player above.

The latest coronavirus headlines.

World

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.