One wonders whether to be depressed or optimistic over the fact that while the nation undergoes its most sincere soul-searching regarding race in generations, Trump seems hell-bent upon using that one tool in his box, the all too reliable racist dog whistles, to get his base energized.

In Tulsa on Saturday Trump used the term “Kung Flu” for the first time. Months ago, reports had come out that the term was being used around the White House.

Kellyanne Conway denied those reports stating that it would be terribly racist to say such a thing and challenging the reports as to who was saying such things.

It is Trump, at least now.

The President uses the term “Kung Flu” again and says “COVID, COVID-19, COVID, I said what’s the 19. COVID-19, some people can’t explain the 19.” pic.twitter.com/9tD6dC8aGB

— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) June 23, 2020

Notice the cheer that went out from the young white student base? (Oh, also, “your president” has an IQ of about 74 if he can’t tell you where the “19” comes from, even we understand it comes from the year that the variant was first discovered).

This proudly racist moment tells us a great deal about Trump’s campaign strategy. Even though 75% of the nation has said that race relations matter to them and that progress is needed, Trump’s priorities remain with pleasing that 25% and remaining true to his heart, which is good because it is far more difficult to win when only 25% of the vote.

It is not good for our Asian brothers and sisters, and my heart goes out to my lifelong two best friends, twin brothers that are half Japenese. Trump will continue to make life as difficult as possible for people of color, immigrants (me), LGTBQ family, scientists, artists, etc. etc., but of that list, people of color will suffer the worst and it is tragic. A man named “Trever” from Idaho who has Asian features but has never seen California, never mind East Asia, will be maligned or beaten by some Trumper, because now it is “MAGA” to hurt others for a disease he fcked up.

So awful. It makes one want to vote 19 times to beat him.

White House says, “Kung Flu is not racist, cross burnings are just nice bonfires, and lynchings are just harmless lasso games.”

— Bill Johnson (@Bill43111) June 23, 2020

We are looking at the president of Kung Flu Klan

— Physical Distance Singh, MD 🌊 (@LabyrinthWeaver) June 23, 2020

"Some people" is himself. Always. So the guy who repeatedly insists the 1918 flu pandemic occurred in 1917 doesn't know where the 19 in COVID-19 came from.

— Jackson Harris (@JacksonTHarris) June 23, 2020

What year do you think trump thinks it is

— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) June 23, 2020

1860?

Our country is being run by the old racist drunk guy at the end of the bar nobody wants to talk to so he just talks to himself out loud.

— ᴬˢˢᴵˢᵀᴬᴺᵀ ᵀᴼ ᵀᴴᴱ ᴮᴿᴬᴺᶜᴴ ᴹᴳᴿ ᴼᶠ 🄰🄽🅃🄸🄵🄰 (@billymocolorad2) June 23, 2020

The racist guy at the end of the bar is smarter, though.

Trump's speeches & rallies are like episodes of World Wide Wrestling & every bit as fake. Everything is staged, he speaks trash to rev up the audience, and the cult members lap it up. It's sick, toxic & shameful. And his message is always the same: #ItsOkayToBeRacist!

— MURRAY 🗽 (@murray_nyc) June 23, 2020

Yep.

****

Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom