Kathmandu May 17.

Former US President Barack Obama has criticised his successor Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.

In an online address to graduating college students, he said the pandemic had shown that many officials “aren’t even pretending to be in charge”.

It is the second time in recent days that Mr Obama has hit out at the Trump administration’s coronavirus response.

He said it had been “an absolute chaotic disaster” during a leaked conference call last week.

The former president also gave an address to high school students that was hosted by NBA star LeBron James and was part of a special programme that featured numerous celebrities including the Jonas Brothers, Megan Rapinoe, Pharrell Williams and education activist Malala Yousafzai.

In his speech to graduates from several dozen historically black colleges and universities, Mr Obama said the Covid-19 outbreak had exposed failings in the country’s leadership.

“More than anything this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” he said.