Kellyanne Conway Defends Trump's Use of 'Kung Flu' Term, Contradicting Previous Disapproval of It

By Meaghan Ellis June 24, 2020 at 2:53pm

White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway is defending President Donald Trump’s recent use of the term “Kung flu” to describe the coronavirus despite previously condemning the term.

As Conway spoke with reporters outside of the White House on Wednesday morning, she was immediately asked about her reaction to the president’s repeated use of the term “Kung flu” during his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday.

Conway fired back in defense of Trump blaming China for the president’s use of the term.

“My reaction is that the president has made very clear he wants everybody to understand, and I think many Americans do understand, that the virus originated in China and that had China been more transparent and honest with the United States and the world, we wouldn’t have all the death and destruction that, unfortunately, we’ve suffered.”

After defending the president Conway pivoted to CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang as she approached.

Despite being questioned about the president’s use of the term, Conway pressed Jiang to reveal the name of the person who initially said it.

“I’m glad you’re joining us with you because I still invite you up here to tell us who said that,” Conway said. “And I think that that would be very important revelation for us. That’s not a source for you to protect. That’s somebody who shouldn’t have said that, and you’re claiming did say that, and we still don’t know who that was.”

Although Conway was pressed about the issue, she appeared to avoid questions about her remarks made in March.

Conway’s latest defense of the president appears to contradict her previous remarks.

See Conway’s remarks below:

WATCH: Kellyanne Conway defends President Trump's COVID-19 language https://t.co/tsEzmCPIDt pic.twitter.com/XQhRytUKe7

— The Hill (@thehill) June 24, 2020

At the beginning of the pandemic, Jiang raised concerns about an unnamed White House official’s use of the term “Kung flu” to describe the coronavirus. However, she refrained from identifying the person.

During one of Trump’s press briefings back in March, he was asked if he thought the term “Chinese virus” was racist. He claimed he did not as he insisted the virus came from China.

See Trump and Jiang’s exchange below:

Amid heightened backlash over the terms, Conway was also asked her opinion.

Although she pressed for the name of the person who made the remark, she conceded saying in March, “Of course, it’s wrong.” She also described the term as “highly offensive,” as she noted that her husband and kids are Asian-American.

Hear Conway’s previous remarks below:

"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

In wake of the latest “Kung flu” argument, Jiang has also fired back via Twitter and called out Conway for her previous contradictory remarks.

She tweeted, “In March, Kellyanne Conway said the term ‘Kung flu’ was ‘highly offensive’ and that she’d like to tell whoever said it that it was ‘hurtful’ and ‘unhelpful’. She mentioned her kids are Asian-American. The President has now used the phrase 3 times.”

In March, Kellyanne Conway said the term "kung flu" was "highly offensive" and that she'd like to tell whoever said it that it was "hurtful" and "unhelpful". She mentioned her kids are Asian-American.

The President has now used the phrase 3 times.

This morning she said this: https://t.co/jSMLQtNpYi

— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) June 24, 2020

Conway has yet to respond to the latest criticism.

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