Trump says U.S. must 'totally protect' Asian American community amid coronavirus pandemic

Donald Trump with Mike Pence and William Barr.

(Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

last updated 24 March 2020

President Trump on Monday evening said it is imperative that Asian Americans do not experience harassment amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

"It's very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States and all around the world," he said. "They're amazing people and the spreading of the virus is not their fault in any way, shape, or form. They're working closely with us to get rid of it. We will prevail together. It's very important."

Trump has referred to COVID-19 as the "Chinese Virus," something health officials have warned could fuel discrimination against Asian Americans. Several Asian Americans spoke with The New York Times and reported that because of abuse they've faced during the pandemic, including being yelled and spit at, they are "afraid to go grocery shopping, to travel alone on subways or buses, to let their children go outside."

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.