Trump doubles down on his use of "China virus" in describing the coronavirus

SCREEN CAPTURE / CNN

Donald Trump at the daily coronavirus briefing at the White House.

Donald Trump's insistence on calling COVID-19 the "China virus" is spurring a rise in attacks, physical altercations or verbal abuse, against Asians.


Some of the nation’s leading civil rights and racial justice organizations issued a joint urgent call to action against racism and discrimination targeting Asian Americans related to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The joint statement is in response to Trump's continued insistence in referring to the COVID-19 pandemic as the "China virus," in his tweets and news conference. Critics say his use of the term, along with Wuhan virus: 

“As our nation grapples with the coronavirus, we are deeply concerned that recent incidents of racism and discrimination against Asian Americans threaten our collective public safety. In recent weeks, Asian Americans have been subjected to violent attacks, discrimination against their businesses and xenophobic portrayal by the media and our elected leaders.

"We are often reminded of the xenophobic history of our nation—from the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act to the 2019 Public Charge Rule—our nation has always treated people of color and immigrants with suspicion. Coronavirus does not discriminate based on race or ethnicity.

"The World Health Organization’s declaration of a pandemic is a call to action—both to protect our collective public health and to remind us that we must stand together. We call on policymakers, the media and the public to take affirmative steps to halt and condemn xenophobia and to ensure that the health and safety of all Americans is protected.”

Signatories to the statement are:

Advancement Project, National Office, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Demos, Faith in Action, NAACP, National Congress of American Indians, National Urban League, Race Forward, and Unidos US are a collaborative of nine leading national Racial Equity Anchor Organizations supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 

In one instance, a CBS reporters said a White House staffer called it the "Kung Flu," is sparking a surge in attacks against Asian Americans.

When asked by reporters this morning at the coronavirus daily briefing, if he was offended by the use of "Kung Flu," and "China virus," he brusquely responded, “No, no, no,” ...“Not at all. I think they probably would agree with it 100 percent. It comes from China. There’s nothing not to agree with.”

A few hours later, Wednesday afternoon, the White House apparently received instructions to respond to the growing criticism with this tweet:

Director of the Centers for Disease Control Robert Redfield in Congressional hearings on March 10 went against Trump and GOP lawmakers and condemned the use of the term "China virus" and the CDC website issued guidelines against its use because of negative impact it has on Asian Americans.

However, in Tuesday's briefing, Trump pushed back at the suggestion that using the racist term creates a stigma.

"I don't think so. I think saying that our military gave it to them creates a stigma," Trump told reporters.

CNN previously reported that a prominent Chinese official is repeating a conspiracy theory that the US military could have brought the deadly virus to China -- and it did not originate in the Chinese city of Wuhan where it was first reported by Chinese health officials.

"I didn't appreciate the fact that China was saying that our military gave it to them. Our military did not give it to anybody," Trump said.

"China was putting out information, which was false, that our military gave this to them. That was false. And rather than having an argument, I said I had to call it where it came from. It did come from China. So, I think it's a very accurate term," he said.

Trump is also using the spread of the virus as a justification for his harsh, and some say racist, immigration policy stemming immigration to the US and the need to construct his infamous wall on the border with Mexico even though the introduction of the virus to the US is believed to have been transmitted by American visitors to China.

Capitol Hill lawmakers, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, and members of the three minority Congressional Caucuses, have spoken out against the use of the term.

Nevertheless, Trump and GOP congressmembers continue to doubled down on the use of this term during press conferences. 

Trump's insistence in the use of the offensive term goes against guidelines issued by the World Health Organization and the promises by members of Trump’s own administration, including Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield, to refrain from using that term in reference to COVID-19 because it incites blame, racism, and hatred towards Asian Americans, putting them at risk for prejudice and violence. 

RELATED: Coronavirus fears spur attacks against Asian Americans

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chairwoman Judy Chu, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Joaquin Castro, Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairwoman Karen Bass, and Congressional Native American Caucus Co-Chair Deb Haaland issued the following joint statement:

“The name of the virus causing the crisis in America and around the world is the 2019 novel coronavirus, or COVID-19 for short. It has a name. But Republicans, from President Trump on down, have insisted on creating and using alternatives such as the ‘Chinese’ or ‘Wuhan’ virus. This is dangerous and they know it. The World Health Organization has said labeling a disease by region or ethnicity makes it harder to contain the disease and promotes stigma that can negatively impact ethnic groups. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said creating stigma endangers public health. 

"Yet still, Republicans are rejecting that expert guidance in order to stoke xenophobia and blame all people of Chinese ethnicity for a public health crisis that knows no boundaries. 

"But by telling people who to blame, they are telling people who to fear and who to hate. Unfortunately, we have already seen how this bigotry has impacted Asian Americans across the country who are facing increased prejudice and violence. Many have even been assaulted to the point of needing to seek medical care in hospitals due to the injuries sustained from physical attacks. This is the consequence of spreading xenophobia, something that cannot continue to be amplified by the Trump Administration and Republican Members. Not now, not ever.

“Republicans have a choice: they can either help contain this global pandemic, or they can exploit it and exacerbate it to serve the President’s narrow political and xenophobic interests. But by doing the latter, they are putting American lives at risk. 

"Conversely, it’s heartening to see the four national caucuses of state legislators of color join our efforts by issuing a statement denouncing the Administration’s efforts to spread xenophobia. We are also grateful to all the local elected officials, governors, and community leaders adhering to clear, consistent messaging that rightfully places no blame on Asian Americans or any other ethnic group. Once again, we implore all leaders to stick to expert guidance and not spread xenophobia. Lives depend on it.”