Conway: “Kung Flu” Is Offensive, “Chinese Virus” Isn’t

The Daily Beast reports:

“This morning a White House official referred to #Coronavirus as the ‘Kung-Flu’ to my face,” CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang tweeted on Tuesday. “Makes me wonder what they’re calling it behind my back.”

Kellyanne Conway was asked about the incident on Wednesday morning and responded with typical indignation. “Of course it’s wrong,” the White House counselor said, but refused to engage in what she described as a “hypothetical” situation.

Yet despite Kellyanne Conway’s insistence that it is “wrong” to call the coronavirus “Kung-Flu,” she has defended President Donald Trump’s use of the phrase “Chinese virus” in tweets and press conferences, arguing that he’s just referring to its origin.

“I’m married to an Asian” — Kellyanne Conway downplays White House official reportedly calling coronavirus “Kung-Flu” and Trump using the term “Chinese Virus” pic.twitter.com/aI9TubIfGz

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 18, 2020

.⁦@KellyannePolls⁩ says the president is referring to where the virus started when he refers to the #coronavirus as the “Chinese virus.” (Critics consider the description racist.) pic.twitter.com/0vqNXyB3SC

— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) March 18, 2020

Kellyanne Conway: “I’m married to an Asian.”
When challenged in Potus use of “China virus” and staffer referring to “Kung flu” pic.twitter.com/qAqRIJtLGG

— Rob Crilly (@robcrilly) March 18, 2020

Per pool, when asked about the “Kung Flu” remarks to a reporter yesterday, Kellyanne Conway called the remark “highly offensive.”
“I’m married to an Asian,” she said, noting her children were of Asian descent.

— Nicholas Wu (@nicholaswu12) March 18, 2020