White House Press Secretary Says "Damaging Rhetoric" in Trump Administration Elevated Threats Against Asian Americans

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki responds to a question about the deadly shootings in Atlanta Tuesday that left eight people dead, including six Asian women, and whether there is an uptick in attacks on people of Asian descent in the U.S., saying,

"The damaging rhetoric during the prior administration, calling COVID 'the Wuhan virus,' led to perceptions of the Asian American community that are inaccurate, unfair, has elevated threats against Asian Americans. We're seeing that around the country." Psaki also says that the increase in attacks prompted President Biden to speak out against them and call for them to stop in his March 11 address to the nation on the anniversary of the pandemic. close