evidence: FACT CHECK: Did Trump Call The Coronavirus A ‘Hoax’ At His South Carolina Rally? Politico published an article claiming President Donald Trump called the novel coronavirus a "hoax" at his Feb. 28 campaign rally in South Carolina. [...] Trump denied that he called the coronavirus a "hoax" in a Feb. 29 press conference. He said he was "referring to the action that they take to try and pin this on somebody because we’ve done such a good job. The hoax is on them. I’m not talking about what’s happening here. I’m talking what they’re doing. That’s the hoax," according to NBC News.