April 10, 2020
What started off with continuous CNN coverage of the Wuhan coronavirus or the Chinese coronavirus several weeks ago and topped off with President Trump finally taking CNN’s lead and calling it the “China Virus,” lead to allegations of racism and xenophobia for the Trump administration. President Trump soon after held another press conference stating very clearly “Asian-Americans are amazing people and the virus is not their fault in any way shape or form.”
On Thursday, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway stated to Yamiche Alcindor of PBS “I’m married to an Asian-American, my kids are 25 percent Filipino.” Kellyanne Conway was, of course, referring to her husband, George Conway, whose mother is Filipino. Yamiche Alcindor responded, “Oh, that’s right…..”
The conversation was brought up when Alcindor asked Conway if calling the pandemic “Kung Flu” was wrong. Conway replied, “I’m not dealing in hypotheticals here, of course, it’s wrong, but you can’t just make an accusation and not tell us who it is.” Conway was referring to CBS reporter Weijia Jiang’s tweet: “This morning a White House official referred to #Coronavirus as the ‘Kung-Flu’ to my face. Makes me wonder what they’re calling it behind my back.”
Conway continued: “Weija, who was it? Tell us, I think we ought to know?”
President Trump also asked reporters bringing up the subject of “Kung Flu” and who in the White House openly coined the term to CBS reporter Weijia Jiang. Neither Jiang or other reporters asking about the subject identified the White House official.
Feature Image via Business Insider