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President Trump Announces 'Operation Warp Speed' in Race to Find a Wuhan Coronavirus Vaccine

Katie Pavlich
Katie Pavlich  |  May 15, 2020 3:00 PM

President Trump announced a new federal government, private sector partnership Friday as the race for a Wuhan coronavirus vaccine continues. 

"Today I want to update you on the next stage of this momentous medical initiative. It's called 'Operation Warp Speed. That means big and it means fast. A massive scientific, industrial, and logistical endeavor unlike anything our country has seen since the Manhattan Project," Trump said from the Rose Garden. "It's objective is to develop and then to manufacture and distribute a proven coronavirus vaccine as fast as possible. Again, we'd love to see if we can do it prior to the end of the year." 

“While we accelerate the final phases of vaccine trials, Operation Warp Speed will be simultaneously accelerating its manufacturing and manufacturing process, in other words we're getting ready, so that when we get the good word that we have the vaccine, we have the formula, we have what we need we’re ready to go," he continued. “Our task is so urgent, that under Operation Warp Speed, the federal government will invest in manufacturing all of the top vaccine candidates before they're approved so we're knowing exactly what we're doing, before they're approved." 

During questioning by reporters, President Trump said the federal government and private sector partners are working to develop a vaccine to meet 100 percent of the demand from people who want to get it. He also said profit is not the goal. 

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper echoed President Trump's goal for a timeline. 

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"We will deliver, by the end of this year, a vaccine at scale to treat the American people and our partners abroad," he said.