Republican President Donald Trump, accused by Joe Biden of putting lives at risk in his handling of the coronavirus, on Monday called his Democratic rival “stupid” and demanded an apology for what Trump called anti-vaccine rhetoric.

Trailing in national opinion polls as the US death toll from the virus approaches 190,000, Trump unleashed a broad attack against both the former vice president, his opponent in the November 3 election, and Biden’s running mate, US Senator Kamala Harris.

Joe Biden. AP file picture

Trump has said that a vaccine against the virus would be ready in record time, perhaps before the election.

Harris had said she would not trust Trump with a vaccine before the election and Biden, critical of Trump’s response to the virus, has urged Americans to heed the scientists. Critics accuse Trump of undermining scientists during the pandemic.

Speaking in front of the White House at a US Labour Day news conference, Trump said: “Biden and his very liberal running mate, the most liberal person in Congress by the way — is not a competent person in my opinion, would destroy this country and would destroy this economy — should immediately apologise for the reckless anti-vaccine rhetoric that they are talking right now,” adding: “It undermines science.”

The president called Biden “stupid”.