President Trump Calls COVID-19 'Kung Flu'... Supporters Enthralled by Racist Remarks

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by using the expression "kung flu," which disparages China in relation to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Amid worldwide protests against racial discrimination, there are criticisms that the U.S. president clearly invoked a racially discriminatory term.

On the 20th (local time), according to the U.S. political media outlet The Hill, President Trump said during a presidential campaign rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, "It is a disease with more names than any other in history. I think there are 19 to 20 different names for it," adding, "If I were to name it, I would call it kung flu."

The Hill pointed out, "It appears that President Trump used this expression as a pun on the Chinese martial art kung fu," and noted, "This is not the first time the U.S. administration has used the term 'kung flu.'"

The British daily The Guardian reported, "When President Trump mentioned the racially discriminatory term 'kung flu,' the audience cheered." Bloomberg News reported, "While boasting about his achievements related to COVID-19, President Trump mentioned the slang term 'kung flu,' which has been criticized as a racist remark."

So far, President Trump has referred to COVID-19 as the "China virus" while engaging in disputes with China over responsibility for the spread of the virus. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has attacked China by calling it the "Wuhan virus," escalating tensions with China.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.