President Donald Trump held a press briefing in the Rose Garden on Monday to give updates on the national health crisis that's killed 80 thousand Americans and unemployed millions more.
After the President falsely insisted that the United States has prevailed in terms of adequate testing, CBS White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang asked the President why he continues to tout that the United States leads the world in testing if the country still isn't testing an adequate amount of people.
Things quickly got ugly.
Watch below.
.@weijia: Why is this a global competition to you when Americans are losing their lives every day?
TRUMP: Maybe that's a question you should ask China.
WEIJA: Why are you saying that to me, specifically?
TRUMP: I'm saying it to anybody who would ask a nasty question like that. pic.twitter.com/hokJOXASh8
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2020
Jiang, who is Chinese American, asked Trump:
"You've said many times that the U.S. is doing far better than any other country when it comes to testing. Why does that matter? Why is this a global competition to you if every day, Americans are still losing their lives and we're still seeing more cases every day?"
Trump responded:
"They're losing their lives everywhere in the world. Maybe that's a question you should ask China. Don't ask me, ask China that question, okay? When you ask them that question, you may get a very unusual answer."
The President proceeded to call on CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins, who deferred to Jiang to let her respond.
Jiang said to the President:
"Sir, why are you saying that to me specifically? That I should ask China?"
Trump tried to recover:
"I'm not saying it specifically to anybody, I'm saying it to anyone that would ask a nasty question like that."
Jiang pointed out that it wasn't a nasty question. Kaitlan Collins began to ask her question, but Trump pointed to a different reporter. After Collins repeatedly pointed out that the President selected her to ask a question, he said she didn't respond. Collins persisted and Trump stormed off, ending the press conference.
Trump telling a Chinese American reporter to "ask China" about testing in the United States was not a good look at all.
This isn't the first time the President's bias has revealed itself in interactions with women reporters of color—nor is it the first time Weijia Jiang has been on the receiving end of racism from the Trump White House.
One Trump administration official referred to the virus as "Kung Flu" when interacting with her.
Jiang also happens to be the reporter Trump told to "relax" after she asked a question at another briefing last month.
"Who are you with? ... nice and easy. Just relax ... keep your voice down, please. Keep your voice down" -- Trump tries to bully @weijia after she asks him a question about his statements downplaying the virus in February and his decisions to hold rallies that month pic.twitter.com/SCicdLN8Hv
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 19, 2020
When Trump was asked if he'd meet with the Congressional Black Caucus by White House Correspondent April Ryan, who is Black, Trump asked if she wanted to set up the meeting and if they were friends of hers.
Today's exchange reminded Ryan of that moment, and she welcomed Jiang to "the club."
People are noticing the pattern—and praising the women who stand up to him anyway.
Not a good look, Donald.
For a deeper look into Trump's ineptitude, check out A Very Stable Geniusavailable here.
@jojowiththeflow.bsky.social
