Senior White House Adviser Kellyanne Conway pressed CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang on Wednesday for details about a claim the reporter made earlier this week that has since generated media-driven controversy.
Jiang, who is a self-described “Chinese born West Virginian,” tweeted on Tuesday, “This morning a White House official referred to #Coronavirus as the ‘Kung-Flu’ to my face. Makes me wonder what they’re calling it behind my back.”
The claim, which Jiang has provided no evidence to substantiate, has generated controversy kicked up by the media at a time when the U.S. battles the outbreak of the coronavirus, which originated in China.
Jiang, who aggressively questioned President Donald Trump earlier in the week in a hostile manner, refused to provide any details on who supposedly made the remark to her when she was pressed this afternoon by Conway.
WATCH:
Kellyanne Conway on the rumor that a White House Official called Coronavirus, ‘Kung Flu’: “Tell us all who it is.” pic.twitter.com/wJth3RAlZM
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) March 18, 2020
Online, more and more people, including leftists and members of the Obama administration, have begun calling on Jiang to release the name of the person, and others have gone even further, suggesting that she is lying and made it up.
Former Obama White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu tweeted: “Please name the official. They shouldn’t be able to claim this was off the record.”
Please name the official. They shouldn't be able to claim this was off the record. https://t.co/BJFptGmeHD
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) March 17, 2020
Far-left gun control activist Fred Guttenberg tweeted: “Who was it @weijia? We need to put sunlight on those who would say these things. These people must be held accountable.”
Who was it @weijia? We need to put sunlight on those who would say these things. These people must be held accountable. https://t.co/NIMZuzvsjF
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) March 17, 2020
TPUSA Chief Creative Officer Benny Johnson tweeted: “Name this person. Otherwise, you are a liar. You are using a moment when people are suffering to score cheap political points. You are the reason people hate the media.”
Name this person.
Otherwise, you are a liar.
You are using a moment when people are suffering to score cheap political points.
You are the reason people hate the media. https://t.co/ZoVFwnQ8LL
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 18, 2020
Attorney Harmeet Dhillon tweeted: “It’s been a day and you haven’t named the official. You are in the news business not the grievance business — either disclose the name or stop spreading propaganda.”
It’s been a day and you haven’t named the official. You are in the news business not the grievance business — either disclose the name or stop spreading propaganda. https://t.co/I2XaFdOmNG
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) March 18, 2020
National Review columnist Dan McLaughlin tweeted: “There’s no source-protecting rationale for reporting this without naming names.”
There's no source-protecting rationale for reporting this without naming names. https://t.co/OAjXIgEZKw
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) March 18, 2020
Actor Nick Searcy tweeted: “Name or it didn’t happen.”
Name or it didn’t happen. https://t.co/Nqc5zYG9YS
— Nick Searcy, INSURRECTIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) March 17, 2020
Political commentator Stephen Miller tweeted: “Conway isn’t the right messenger but the point is correct. A journalist doesn’t get to just throw this out there creating a 2 day news cycle without naming the WH Official.”
Conway isn’t the right messenger but the point is correct. A journalist doesn’t get to just throw this out there creating a 2 day news cycle without naming the WH Official. https://t.co/uOp1kurV6p
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) March 19, 2020
Netflix producer Krister Johnson tweeted: “You don’t have to protect that person’s identity. They don’t deserve it.”
You don’t have to protect that person’s identity. They don’t deserve it.
— Krister Johnson (@KristerJohnson) March 17, 2020
MSNBC correspondent Garrett Haake tweeted: “Name names”
Name names
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) March 17, 2020
Anti-Trump commentator Bill Kristol tweeted: “I believe you. But shouldn’t you tell us his or her name?”
I believe you. But shouldn't you tell us his or her name?
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 17, 2020
Podcast host Jesse Kelly mocked her, writing, “Ah yes. The anonymous ‘White House official’ has struck again. How long will this person remain in the shadows?!!!”
https://twitter.com/JesseKellyDC/status/1240028965449936900
Republican strategist Arthur Schwartz tweeted: “Liar.”
https://twitter.com/ArthurSchwartz/status/1240338724820484100
