Communist China knew about the coronavirus for months and wasted critical time trying to silence those who tried to warn the world. But broadcast networks ABC and NBC seemed intent to help the Chinese propaganda machine cover up those facts on Wednesday as they insisted President Trump was being “racist” by calling it the “Chinese Virus.” ABC senior White House correspondent Cecilia Vega even insinuated Trump was trying to unfairly shift blame onto the communists.
“More and more, the President is now pointing the finger at China, repeatedly calling the disease ‘The Chinese Virus,’” she scoffed.
Beclowning herself, Vega proudly showed off a clip of her grilling the President at the day’s press conference and slamming the accurate term as “racist”:
VEGA: There are reports of dozens of incidences of bias against Chinese-Americans in this country. Your own aide Secretary Azar said he does not use this term. He says ethnicity does not cause the virus. Why do you keep using this?
TRUMP: Because it comes from China.
VEGA: A lot of people say it's racist.
TRUMP: It's not racist at all. No, not at all. It comes from China, that's why.
Trying to shift the blame onto Trump, she parroted “claims” that he “wasted crucial time by downplaying the threat for months” and suggested he “falsely claimed the virus, quote, ‘Snuck up on us.’”
But back here, in reality, reporting from more honest outlets have exposed how China had tried to cover-up the virus for weeks. They didn’t admit the virus was spreading until it was out of control, which cost the world months of preparation and many lives. It’s also understood that they’re lying about how many people the virus had infected and killed. So, Vega was wrong.
Over on NBC Nightly News, White House correspondent Peter Alexander pushed the suggestion “Chinese Virus” was racist terminology. “Tonight, the President is also defending calling the coronavirus the ‘Chinese Virus,’ despite fierce criticism that the term is racist and stigmatizes Chinese Americans,” he huffed.
He added: “His own CDC director saying it's inappropriate. Trump tonight insists it is not racist but accurate, he says, because the virus started in China.” Um…but it’s a fact that the virus started in China. It’s worth noting that the Chinese propaganda machine had been pumping out lies that claimed the virus came from the U.S. under nefarious means.
NBC even had this snarky on-screen headline: “Trump: Calling It ‘Chinese Virus’ Is ‘Not Racist at All.’”
The context of these reports was very important to understand. The parent companies of ABC (Disney) and NBC (NBCUniversal) both had subscription streaming services they were trying to pedal to the massive Chinese market. Late last year, Comedy Central’s South Park called out such companies for looking the other way and being permissive of China’s atrocities. These reports also come the day after American newspaper reporters were kicked out of China.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
March 18, 2020
6:46:03 p.m. Eastern(…)
CECILIA VEGA: More and more, the President is now pointing the finger at China, repeatedly calling the disease "The Chinese Virus."
There are reports of dozens of incidences of bias against Chinese-Americans in this country. Your own aide Secretary Azar said he does not use this term. He says ethnicity does not cause the virus. Why do you keep using this?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Because it comes from China.
VEGA: A lot of people say it's racist.
TRUMP: It's not racist at all. No, not at all. It comes from China, that's why.
VEGA: He's also on the defensive against claims that he wasted crucial time by downplaying the threat for months.
TRUMP: One day it's like a miracle, it will disappear.
VEGA: Today, President Trump falsely claimed the virus, quote, "Snuck up on us."
(…)
NBC Nightly News
March 18, 2020
7:11:23 p.m. Eastern(…)
PETER ALEXANDER: Meanwhile, tonight he's brushing off frustrations about how some of the rich and famous are getting tests before others.
How are non-symptomatic professional athletes getting tests, while others are waiting in line and can’t getting them? Do the well-connected go to the front of the line?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, you'd have to ask them that question.
ALEXANDER: Should that happen?
TRUMP: I've read. No, I wouldn't say so but perhaps that's been the story of life.
[Cuts back to live]
ALEXANDER: Tonight, the President is also defending calling the coronavirus the “Chinese Virus,” despite fierce criticism that the term is racist and stigmatizes Chinese Americans. His own CDC director saying it's inappropriate. Trump tonight insists it is not racist but accurate, he says, because the virus started in China.
