During a nearly six-minute long report on Friday, NBC’s Today show tried to directly lay blame for “growing discrimination” against Asian American at the feet of President Trump. The coverage suggested that Trump’s use of the phrase “Chinese virus” in the early days of the pandemic inspired hate crimes across the country.
“We are back with an unexpected side effect of this coronavirus crisis – Asian Americans becoming targets of discrimination,” co-host Hoda Kotb warned as she introduced the lengthy segment. Correspondent Vicky Nguyen began her piece by declaring:
One Asian advocacy group says it has received more than 1,500 reports of COVID-related hate incidents since mid-January. People are saying they’ve been harassed online, spit on, yelled at, even physically attacked, but as more people speak up to fight back against the hate, there is hope we can stop it from spreading.
After highlighting some of the disturbing incidents, the reporter focused on who she thought was to blame: “From mid to late March, President Trump repeatedly referred to coronavirus as the ‘Chinese virus.’” A soundbite even played of ABC White House correspondent Cecilia Vega accusing the President of “racism” during a briefing in March.
Nguyen hyped: “This photo of his speech with the word ‘Chinese’ replacing ‘corona’ went viral on social media.”
A clip followed of Democratic Texas State Representative Gene Wu proclaiming: “I have never seen the Asian American community this scared. They’re in fear for their life.” Nguyen asked him: “Why not call it the Chinese virus?” Wu asserted: “Because it could create harm and has created harm.”
Teeing up more soundbites from elected Democrats, Nguyen announced: “Now many are calling for people to rise above the hate.” Remarks from left-wing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries were shown.
Beyond Democratic officials, Nguyen noted: “And also spotlighting the growing discrimination, multiple op-eds, including mine.” A series of editorial headlines appeared on screen, including one from the Los Angeles Times that blared: “Op-Ed: Trump’s racist comments are fueling hate crimes against Asian Americans. Time for state leaders to step in.”
As for Nguyen’s own March 30 op-ed on NBCNews.com, she touted her effort to scold the President on Twitter:
In fact, the first time I’ve ever tweeted directly to the president was when he started calling COVID-19 the “Chinese virus.” My tweet read, “Can you please call it the coronavirus or COVID-19 because calling it the Chinese virus encourages more racism and hate crimes.” He doubled down and continued to call the Chinese virus.
On Friday, she at least acknowledged that the President has specifically condemned any prejudice against Asian Americans, even if she hinted that he was somehow shamed into it:
While there’s more work ahead, some things have changed. After repeatedly calling it the “Chinese virus,” President Trump appears to have stopped, and tweeted in part, “It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States and all around the world. They are amazing people, and the spreading of the virus is NOT their fault.”
Trump also made it clear on multiple occasions that his use of the phrase “Chinese virus” was designed to hold the authoritarian communist government of China accountable for mishandling the disease and lying about it – which helped cause the global health crisis.
If the press can find a way to turn coverage of the virus into an attack on the President, it will find that angle.
Here is a full transcript of the April 24 report:
8:14 AM ET
HODA KOTB: We are back with an unexpected side effect of this coronavirus crisis – Asian Americans becoming targets of discrimination. The FBI recently issued a warning about a potential spike in hate crimes, and just this week, the NYPD launched a social media campaign to raise awareness, tweeting, “Hate is an ugly word and it has no place in our vocabulary.” A growing number of celebrities are speaking out, including actor John Cho, who penned an op/ed for the L.A. Times.
NBC News investigative and consumer correspondent Vicky Nguyen is here with more. And Vicky, this is a really, really troubling trend.
VICKY NGUYEN: It is, and I will say it is personal for me, too, Hoda. The numbers really back it up. One Asian advocacy group says it has received more than 1,500 reports of COVID-related hate incidents since mid-January. People are saying they’ve been harassed online, spit on, yelled at, even physically attacked, but as more people speak up to fight back against the hate, there is hope we can stop it from spreading.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Prejudice & The Pandemic; Inside Look at Increased Threats Against Asian Americans]
Dr. Chen Fu is on the front lines in the battle against COVID-19. As a Chinese American doctor, he feels both celebrated and vilified.
DR. CHEN FU: I feel an animosity that I've never felt before.
NGUYEN: On his commute to the hospital, Dr. Fu says he was approached by a stranger.
FU: “You dirty Chinese,” and he just kept saying that over and over again. I’ve never felt anything like this before.
NGUYEN: This just one of many incidents across the country now being reported. Asian Americans targeted for their race.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Get out of our country!
NGUYEN: In Texas, this person yelling at a Vietnamese restaurant owner.
WOMAN: Get out!
NGUYEN: And this man and his two children stabbed at a Sam’s Club. The suspect, according to the FBI, thought the family was Chinese and infecting people with the coronavirus. In Minnesota, this note, the tenants claim, was posted on their door, reading, “We’re watching you. Take the Chinese virus back to China.” In New York City, in just a month, police say they’ve investigated 11 hate crimes against Asian Americans, compared to three in all of last year. OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates, a nonprofit group that tracks discrimination against Asian Americans, says it has received more than 1,500 COVID-19-related reports of hate incidents since January.
RITA PIN AHRENS [ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ADVOCATES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR]: We have seen everything from cashiers who will tell somebody, “I’m not going to serve you because I don’t want to catch coronavirus. We’ve also seen patients who have gone into health clinics who say, “I don’t want you as a nurse. I want somebody else to help me.”
NGUYEN: Because the nurse was Asian American?
AHRENS: Exactly.
NGUYEN: From mid to late March, President Trump repeatedly referred to coronavirus as the “Chinese virus.”
DONALD TRUMP: The Chines virus...The fight against the Chinese virus...It comes from China.
CECILIA VEGA [ABC NEWS]: People say it’s racist.
TRUMP: It’s not racist at all, no.
NGUYEN: This photo of his speech with the word “Chinese” replacing “corona” went viral on social media.
GENE WU [D-TX]: I have never seen the Asian American community this scared. They’re in fear for their life.
NGUYEN: Gene Wu is a state representative in Texas.
Why not call it the Chinese virus?
WU: Because it could create harm and has created harm.
NGUYEN: Now many are calling for people to rise above the hate. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
BILL DE BLASIO [D-NY]: We will not tolerate any discrimination. Will not tolerate any hate crimes.
NGUYEN: Black, Hispanic, and Asian congressional leaders uniting to condemn racism.
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES [D-NY, HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CHAIRMAN]: It’s important for us to negate the hate. Come together as Americans.
NGUYEN: And celebrities urging fans to stand up for each other. Actor Daniel Dae Kim.
DANIEL DAE KIM: Please, please stop the prejudice and senseless violence against Asian people.
NGUYEN: Social media campaigns #WASHTHEHATE, #RacismIsAVirus and #IAmNotCOVID19 are spreading.
UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Let’s wash the hate!
NGUYEN: And also spotlighting the growing discrimination, multiple op-eds, including mine.
[ON-SCREEN GRAPHIC SHOWS MULTIPLE HEADLINES, INCLUDING ONE FROM L.A. TIMES: “Op-Ed: Trump’s racist comments are fueling hate crimes against Asian Americans. Time for state leaders to step in”]
[ANOTHER HEADLINE ON NBCNEWS.COM FROM NGUYEN HERSELF: “NBC’s Vicky Nguyen: Coronavirus is spurring anti-Asian attacks – It’s time to stick up for those who are targets of racism”]
While there’s more work ahead, some things have changed. After repeatedly calling it the “Chinese virus,” President Trump appears to have stopped, and tweeted in part, “It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States and all around the world. They are amazing people, and the spreading of the virus is NOT their fault.”
And in some of the racist attacks, people stepped in to help. Zach Owens risked his life to save the family attacked in Texas.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN [ATTACK VICTIM]: He saved our lives.
NGUYEN: And for Dr. Fu, a stranger jumped in.
DR. FU: He defended me and he said, “No, you can’t do this.” That guy was my hero.
NGUYEN: And this is not just happening with adults. Just this week, an Asian mom posted this to her Instagram. A student her daughter’s second grade class said he didn’t like China or Chinese people because they started this quarantine. She encouraged her daughter to put her feelings on paper and the result was this letter. It reads in part: “This made me feel sad because he was my friend and I’m Chinese. It’s wrong because he doesn’t know what he’s saying.” But it ends on a compassionate note, “Thank you for being my friend.” And it really is so important, Hoda, for kids – for parents to speak with their kids about this kind of discrimination.
HODA KOTB: I mean, it’s so jarring to think of a second grader who’s being mocked by another classmate is just so disturbing. And I was just – I mean, this whole thing makes me so sick, but if you are put in a position like some of these folks have been, what’s the best thing for you to do?
NGUYEN: Well, safety first. So really do want to try to remove yourself from the situation. Of course report the incident if you can. Both law enforcement and these advocacy groups say they take it very seriously, they will investigate. And talk about it, lean in to your family and your friends for support. Sometimes you feel embarrassed or ashamed like it’s something you did to bring it on, but that’s not the case, and you’ve got to put these messages out there. It reminds us all, we’re all in this together.
KOTB: Yeah, wow, what a really eye-opening report. Alright, thank you so much, Vicky.
