Did Trump say "Chinese virus" in the presser yesterday 3/23? I started watching just after it

[brewens]

began and thought he may have started off with it. I watched until my local Sinclair affiliate cut to Dr. Phil and didn't see him say it.

I'm wondering because if he was forced to back off that, it would be a major eat shit moment for him and a bunch of his half-wit racist supporters.

[Mike Nelson]

1. There were a few times when he wanted to...

... but paused and caught himself. Obviously, it was a topic behind the scenes.

[hlthe2b]

2. I'm guessing he had gotten a LOT of blowback as well as anger from the resultant targeting of Asian

people, as he made nice to Asian people worldwide. Maybe China's Xi or some influential Asian investors/supporters have read him the riot act. Or maybe one of the few remaining semi-sane communications people around him (Hope Hicks?) expressed objections.

Don't expect it to last.

[malaise]

3. No - in fact he began by singing the praises of Asian-Americans

It was a major walk-back

[JHB]

5. Walk, nothing. It was more Soviet-grade rewrite.

"No one ever said that, comrade."

[malaise]

6. LOL

If you hadn't been watching him you'd never have known that he was the one promoting the racist meme

[JHB]

4. Not for any of the time I tuned in. It was conspicuously absent...

A real turnaround from how Trump and everyone he dragged on stage were talking over the weekend. Not that they walked it back so much as swept it under the rug.

But now that they've wound the fan club up, it'll stick with that like it's their new favorite chew toy.

And, of course, we're talking about Trump. He could go right back to it at any time.

[Celerity]

7. you KNOW he really wants to go full-stop yellow baiter and call it the Kung Flu

[thesquanderer]

8. I think not, but AFAIK he didn't say coronavirus or COVD19 either...

...instead using terms along the lines of "this terrible pandemic," etc.

I think people in the administration came to realize what a bad idea "Chinese virus" was, but didn't want to use those other correct names in order to draw less attention to the shift of no longer calling it the Chinese virus.

[brewens]

9. Good point. I didn't pick up on that. I'd love to see a reporter ask why the change? Mr. President,

you seem to have stopped using the racist term "Chinese virus", have you bowed to public pressure?