Trump puts Chinese-American reporter on the spot, asks to question Beijing on virus

Donald Trump got into a testy exchange with a reporter, who questioned his assertion that the US is doing far better than any other country when it comes to testing, given the tens of thousands of deaths due to the coronavirus. Trump told the reporter that she should ask China that question adding that she might get a very unusual answer.

Hyderabad: US President Donald Trump on Monday replying to a query of a Chinese-American reporter over growing COVID-19 cases said that she should ask this to China, not him.

A CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang asked Trump why he was putting so much emphasis on the number of coronavirus tests that have been conducted in the US.

“Why does that matter?” Jiang asked. “Why is this a global competition to you if everyday Americans are still losing their lives and we're still seeing more cases every day?”

Trump replied that “they're losing their lives everywhere in the world. And maybe that's a question you should ask China. Don't ask me. Ask China that question.”

He called for another question, and there was no immediate response.

“Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically?,” she asked.

Jiang, who has worked for CBS News since 2015, was born in Xiamen, China, and emigrated to the US with her family at age 2.

Trump said he would say that to "anyone who asks a nasty question".

“It's not a nasty question,” Jiang said. “Why does that matter?”

AP