Donald Trump's Secretary of State accused the World Health Organization chief of being "bought by the Chinese government" in a private rant, it's emerged.
Mike Pompeo dramatically ramped up US attacks on the WHO yesterday in a meeting with around two dozen MPs during his visit to the UK.
According to the Telegraph, he claimed Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus - elected as WHO Director-General in 2017 - was "bought by the Chinese government".
He is said to have added: "I can't say more, but I can tell, I'm saying this on a firm intelligence foundation, a deal was made...
"There was a deal-making election and when push came to shove, you get dead Britons, because of the deal that was made."
Two sources confirmed to the Mirror that Mr Pompeo made the comments.
It is the latest in a string of attacks by Trump's administration on the WHO - which believes the allegation about Dr Tedros is untrue.
Donald Trump has moved towards pulling the US out of the WHO, claiming the organisation was pressured by China to "mislead the world" over coronavirus.
Yet the President also faces scrutiny over his own disastrous response to coronavirus in a country where roughly 140,000 people have died.
Despite infection rates currently falling in many European countries, last night the President gave a press conference where he admitted "it will probably unfortunately get worse before it gets better".
A WHO spokeswoman said: "WHO is not aware of any such statement but we strongly reject any ad hominem attacks and unfounded allegations.
"WHO urges countries to remain focused on tackling the pandemic that is causing tragic loss of life and suffering."
Boris Johnson’s spokesman said Mike Pompeo did not raise the “bought” claim with him on Tuesday.
He said the WHO needs “reform” but added: “The PM believes the WHO and its Director-General are playing an important role in leading the global health response to the pandemic.”
The Telegraph also quoted support from Dr David Nabarro, the UK candidate who ran against Dr Tedros for the role of WHO director-general in 2017,
He said of Dr Tedros: "In all the time that I've worked with him since then I've seen him being fair-minded and responsive to all nations, and concentrating on what matters the most, which is getting on top of this pandemic.
"I just don't recognise the kind of remarks made by the US Secretary of State."
Mr Pompeo made the remarks as he ramped up pressure on China during a visit to the UK, where he met the PM and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
He called for the UK and countries around the world to form a coalition persuading China to change course.
said "we have seen Hong Kong's freedoms crushed" and "watched the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) bully its neighbours".
"I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the British Government for its principled response to these challenges," he said.
"We support those sovereign choices, we think 'well done'."
But he indicated that more was needed from allies including the UK to respond to the increasingly assertive China under Xi Jinping.
"We think that the entire world needs to work together to ensure that every country - including China - behaves in the international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order.
"You can't go make claims for maritime regions that you have no lawful claim to. You can't threaten countries and bully them in the Himalayas. You can't engage in cover-ups and co-opt international institutions like the World Health Organisation."
Mr Pompeo also highlighted the Chinese government directing state-owned firms to "steal" intellectual property from US firms.