Brands COVID-19 the "Chinese Virus," sparking anti-Asian hate

As the pandemic worsened, Trump began repeatedly referring to COVID-19 as the "Chinese Virus" in tweets and briefings, defending the term as "accurate" despite warnings from the WHO and his own officials that it would stigmatize Asian Americans. The rhetoric coincided with a sharp rise in anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination across the U.S., with attackers often parroting Trump's language.

"The United States will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus." — Twitter, March 16, 2020