Meghan McCain denounced former President Donald Trump’s “racist rhetoric” against Asian Americans after comedian John Oliver called attention to her past indifference.
The co-host of ABC’s The View tweeted on Monday about the “reprehensible violence and vitriol” plaguing the Asian American community in a tweet on Monday, citing Trump’s language as an impetus for the violence.
“There is no doubt Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric fueled many of these attacks and I apologize for any past comments that aided that agenda,” she wrote.
I condemn the reprehensible violence and vitriol that has been targeted towards the Asian-American community. There is no doubt Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric fueled many of these attacks and I apologize for any past comments that aided that agenda.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 22, 2021
McCain’s tweet followed a segment of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver that aired on HBO on Sunday night that took aim at her past comments.
“Just last year, many were loudly warning that Trump calling COVID names like ‘the China virus’ was likely to lead to a rise in violence against people of Asian descent, an argument that, at the time, not everyone seemed to find convincing,” he said.
‘I’VE NEVER FELT THIS MUCH HATRED’: ASIAN AMERICANS STAND UP TO VIOLENCE IN THE AGE OF CORONAVIRUS
Oliver then played a clip of McCain on The View in March 2020 dismissing concerns about nicknames given to the coronavirus.
“I think if the Left wants to focus on P.C. labeling this virus, it is a great way to get Trump reelected,” McCain said in the year-old clip. “I don’t have a problem with people calling it whatever they want. It’s a deadly virus that did originate in Wuhan. I don’t have a problem with it.”
Oliver cited this clip as evidence that McCain’s March 17 tweet urging followers to “stop Asian hate” was too little, too late.
“There has to be an understanding that saying, ‘I don’t have a problem with calling it ‘the China virus,” is very much giving space for that hate to grow,” he said.
Many Twitter users agreed with Oliver.
John Oliver called out Meghan McCain for anti-Asian comments and GOODhttps://t.co/2OcMjZLMDr
— The Mary Sue (@TheMarySue) March 22, 2021
Wow, this might be the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard Meghan McCain say, about Trump’s Mexican rapists speech.
“Do you know what that was? Effective.”
More from the View segment John Oliver played. https://t.co/YMR7RphNNg pic.twitter.com/CF3O7I87uD
— Tommy X-TrumpIsARacist-opher (@tommyxtopher) March 22, 2021
“Listen not to the scores of Asian Americans telling everyone that the term is dangerous and offensive. Instead, gather around and take the word of a wealthy white woman who’s dressed like she’s about to lay off 47 people over Zoom.” — @iamjohnoliver https://t.co/CK0JeFYjf4
— Matt Wilstein (@mattwilstein) March 22, 2021
Meghan McCain is and has always been horrible. And her giving a pass to Trump’s derogatory and racist names for COVID is just one example of how she encouraged racism by excusing behavior. https://t.co/6S0Le6LyrD
— Dr. Sarah Bond (@SarahEBond) March 22, 2021
Still, some defended McCain. Fox News personality Geraldo Rivera called Oliver an “unfunny, self-righteous punk” for his criticism of McCain.
@iamjohnoliver criticism of @MeghanMcCain is a reminder of what an unfunny, self-righteous punk he is.
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) March 23, 2021
The United States has seen a rise in violent crime against Asian Americans in recent weeks. Anti-Asian hate crimes spiked 150% throughout 2020, which some speculate may result from the first cases of COVID-19 being reported in China in 2019, prompting Trump to refer to the disease as the “China virus.”
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Robert Aaron Long, 21, was arrested on March 16 and charged with eight counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault in connection to shootings at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area. Eight people died, six of whom were of Asian descent. Long was allegedly suffering from a sex addiction and wanted to “eliminate” temptation, according to police. Though the attack may not have been racially motivated, many leaders have spoken out against anti-Asian hate in response.
