KUNG FLU

Donald Trump uses racist term 'kung flu' to describe coronavirus sparking outrage online after his own adviser Kellyanne Conway called the phrase 'wrong and highly offensive'

 

Daily Mail

June 21, 2020

 

Donald Trump on Saturday used the racist term 'kung flu' to describe COVID-19, sparking outrage online.

The president, speaking in Tulsa, Oklahoma at his rally in three months, said of the virus: 'It has more names than any disease in history. I can name kung flu. I can name 19 different versions of names.'

His own adviser, Kellyanne Conway, in March called the term 'wrong and highly offensive' when it was suggested a White House official had used it in front of a Chinese American CBS reporter.

But by Saturday night Trump was using the term to laughter and cheers from his supporters. 

Among those outraged by the comments was Captain America actor Chris Evans. 

He tweeted: 'Did the president of the United States just say ‘Kung flu’ at his rally? He made a racist joke. He made. A racist. Joke. To applause. I’m speechless.'

 

The coronavirus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China, has been referred to by the president as the 'Wuhan virus' or the 'Chinese virus'.

Linking the virus, which has caused a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 119,000 Americans, to China has led to an uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans in recent months. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Trump's base loves it every time he sticks his foot in his big mouth.

Since his audience was packed together in Tulsa's  BOK Center, I'm surprised Trump did not tell them they should drink some Lysol toilet bowl cleaner to keep from coming down with coronavirus.