Trump grilled over Covid claims in first Aussie television interview since leaving White House

Donald Trump has sat down for his first Australian TV interview since leaving the White House, to face tough questions about his claims of how Covid-19 spread worldwide.

Donald Trump has sat down for his first Australian TV interview since vacating the White House, to face tough questions about his claims of how Covid-19 spread across the world.

Mr Trump’s interview is part of a major investigation into the pandemic’s beginnings, called What Really Happened In Wuhan, taking the form of a book, documentary and podcast.

Getting him in front of the cameras for Sky News was a major coup for journalist Sharri Markson, who cross-examines Trump about his knowledge of when and how Covid-19 emerged and his claims surrounding the evidence for a laboratory leak.

Donald Trump and Sharri Markson will talk on Sky News in September.

Despite the former president agreeing to the interview, which Sky revealed on Sunday night, Markson’s book will make tough reading for Mr Trump, as it forensically examines the chaos and dysfunction at all levels of his administration as coronavirus swept the globe.

The precise genesis of the pandemic has been hotly contested, with scientists, government officials, the World Health Organisation, and the Chinese authorities releasing conflicting reports.

Markson, an award-winning investigative writer for The Australian, has broken a number of stories about the outbreak and its epicentre, the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Sharri Markson. Picture: Adam Yip

Her book and documentary, out next month, go even deeper with new breakthroughs and never-before-seen information, plus interviews with a range of scientists, high-ranking US and UK intelligence officials and Chinese whistleblowers.

“Even though four million people have now lost their lives, there has been no credible investigation into the origins of Covid-19. It’s outrageous,” said Markson. “People deserve better from our world health authorities. That’s why we wanted to delve into this important topic.”

What Really Happened In Wuhan airs on Sky News on September 20 at 8pm AEST. The book of the same name, published by HarperCollins, will be available from September 29.