ABC News Reporter Cecilia Vega Accuses President Trump of Racism for Calling the Coronavirus the "Chinese Virus"

ABC News White House reporter Cecilia Vega lashed out at President Trump at Wednesday’s coronavirus task force press conference, accusing Trump of racism for calling the virus which originated in Wuhan, China, the “Chinese virus”. Vega was agitated, aggressive and hectoring in her accusatory questioning, but she did not directly call Trump a racist instead hiding behind the “a lot of people say” reporter’s trick while flashing angry eyes at Trump.

Vega even interrupted Trump and tried to get task force members standing behind the President to disavow his use of the term.

Video was posted to Twitter by the MRC’s Kyle Drennen:

ABC's @CeciliaVega attacks Trump during presser, says "it's racist" to use the phrase "Chinese virus" pic.twitter.com/CsE6gkyQxZ

— Kyle Drennen (@kjdrennen) March 18, 2020

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Trump responded by saying the virus came from China and that China had falsely accused U.S. soldiers of giving the virus to China.

Earlier senior White House advisor Kellyanne Conway was asked about the use of the term “Chinese virus”.

Defending @POTUS calling it the Chinese virus, @KellyannePolls argued with @Yamiche and asked @weijia to out the @WhiteHouse official who called it "Kung-flu". #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/XuwCCydJXP

— Patsy Widakuswara (@pwidakuswara) March 18, 2020

Transcript: by TGP:

Vega: “Why do you keep calling this the Chinese virus? There are reports of dozens of incidents of bias against Chinese-Americans in this country. Your own aide Secretary Azar (HHS) said he does not use this term. He says ethnicity does not cause the virus. Why do you keep using this? A lot of people say it’s racist.”

Trump: “Because it comes from China. It’s not racist at all, no, not at all. It comes from China. That’s why. It comes from China. I want to be accurate.”

Vega, while looking at and gesturing to task force members standing behind Trump: (Cameras clicking over her voice)…sir, you’ve got Chinese-American citizens in this country. You have aides behind you, are you comfortable with this term?”

Trump: “I have a great, I have great love for all of the people from our country. But, um, as you know China tried to say at one point, maybe they stopped now, that it was caused by American soldiers. That can’t happen. It’s not gonna happen. Not as long as I’m president. It comes from China.”