One America News Reporter Asks Trump If Saying 'Chinese Food' Is Racist

Chanel Rion of One America News Network asked President Donald Trump Thursday whether saying “Chinese food” is racist, and from there, the two moved on into trashing the media.

During a press conference on the spread of the coronavirus — which Trump has been heavily criticized for calling the “Chinese virus” — Rion, who earlier this week cited a conspiracy theory that the coronavirus was possibly created in a North Carolina lab, said, “Do you consider the term ‘Chinese food’ racist because it’s food that originates in China or it has Chinese roots?”

“I don’t think it’s racist at all,” said Trump.

Also Read: China's State-Run Press Appears to Chastise Trump for Labeling Coronavirus 'Chinese Virus'

“On that note,” Rion went on, “major left-wing news media — even in this room — have teamed up with Chinese Communist Party narratives and they’re claiming you’re racist for making these claims about ‘Chinese virus.’ Is it alarming that major media players, just to oppose you, are consistently siding with foreign state propaganda, Islamic radicals and Latin gangs and cartels? And they work right here at the White House with direct access to you and your team?”

Trump went on to attack the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post saying, “I know the truth and people out there in the world, they really don’t know the truth. They don’t know what it is.”

Before being hired by right-wing OANN, Rion was most known for her political cartoons, which promoted conspiracy theories about the death of DNC staffer Seth Rich. She sat down for a series of interviews with Rudy Giuliani last year as he publicly defended himself and Trump during the impeachment proceedings.

The faces made in the room as @ChanelRion asks Trump: Is it alarming that major media players…are consistently siding with a foreign state propaganda, Islamic radicals, and Latin gangs and cartels and they work right here…with direct access to you and your team? pic.twitter.com/4eW8RHipY5

— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) March 19, 2020

Photos of Trump’s notes from a White House coronavirus task force meeting, which were shared on Twitter by a Washington Post photographer on Thursday, also appeared to show the word “corona” in coronavirus crossed out in black ink and replaced with “Chinese.”

Close up of President @realDonaldTrump notes is seen where he crossed out "Corona" and replaced it with "Chinese" Virus as he speaks with his coronavirus task force today at the White House. #trump #trumpnotes pic.twitter.com/kVw9yrPPeJ

— Jabin Botsford (@jabinbotsford) March 19, 2020

But officials from the World Health Organization have cautioned against calling the novel coronavirus the “Chinese virus” or any other term that associates it with a specific race or ethnicity.

“The pandemic of influenza in 2009 originated in North America and we didn’t call it the North American flu, so it’s very important that we have the same approach when it comes to other viruses,” Mike Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Program, said at a press conference on Wednesday. “This is a time for solidarity, this is a time for facts, this is a time to move forward together, to fight this virus together. There is no blame in this.”

J. Clara Chan contributed to this report.

Bored at Home? Here's Where You Can Watch Most of AFI's Top 25 Films (Photos)

Check out where you watch most of the films (yes, four are not available, unfortunately) on AFI's list.
25. "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)

Since you can’t see Aaron Sorkin’s new adaptation on Broadway right now, you can check out the classic film with an impeccable and honorable performance by Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. We should just say, watch everything on Amazon Prime.
Universal
24. "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982)

Another Spielberg classic, it feels like every kids movie or nostalgia show or movie of the last 20 years owes a big debt to “E.T.” And if you watched that adorable holiday ad from last year, it’s worth checking out just how well the original holds up. Again, you can watch this on Amazon Prime in collaboration with Starz.
Universal
23. "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940)

John Ford’s adaptation of the classic John Steinbeck novel is unfortunately not available for streaming at present.
20th Century Fox
22. "Some Like It Hot" (1959)

AFI in a separate list named Billy Wilder’s “Some Like It Hot” the funniest movie ever made. It’s a riot featuring Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as two musicians who disguise themselves as women in order to evade the mob. It also features Marilyn Monroe at her absolute best. Also watch this on Amazon Prime Video or The Criterion Channel.
United Artists
21. "Chinatown" (1974)

“Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.” That’s the capper to a near-perfect movie rich with a web of corruption, deceit and crime. It also has a masterful Jack Nicholson performance in which he’s in virtually every scene, not to mention wearing a bandage on his nose for most of the film. You can also see this on Amazon in collaboration with Starz.
Paramount Pictures
20. "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)

It’s usually a Christmas tradition, but Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a rousing, feel-good story at any time of year and is an especially poignant message about valuing life and others in these hard times. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Liberty Films
19. "On the Waterfront" (1954)

Marlon Brando had already given titanic performances in films like “A Streetcar Named Desire,” but his sobering work in Elia Kazan’s “On the Waterfront” helped the film sweep the Oscars, including Best Picture. It’s a drama and crime film about an ex-prize fighter who “coulda been a contender” and helps stand up to his corrupt union bosses. Watch it on the Criterion Collection/Crackle.
Columbia Pictures
18. "The General" (1927)

Arguably Buster Keaton’s finest silent film (he also has a quick cameo in “Sunset Boulevard”), “The General” is different from Chaplin’s “City Lights” in that it doesn’t have the same sentimental side and is instead jammed with laughs and incredible stunts the likes of which only Keaton could do. It's on Amazon Prime.
United Artists
17. "The Graduate" (1967)

Mike Nichols’ “The Graduate” helped to herald the shift Old Hollywood to New Hollywood, introducing American audiences to a style of filmmaking popularized by European giants of the early ‘60s. But it also helped to shape a new kind of teen counterculture and made Dustin Hoffman a star. It's available on The Criterion Channel/CBS All Access.
Embassy PIctures
16. "Sunset Boulevard" (1950)

Billy Wilder’s film noir probes the fading glory of Old Hollywood with Gloria Swanson as an old star of silent pictures, Noram Desmond. It’s a perfect place to start exploring the noir genre, as the Top 100 also includes films like “Double Indemnity” and “The Maltese Falcon.” You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video and The Criterion Channel.
Paramount
15. "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968)

Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece was polarizing in its day (and still is), but it’s visually awe-inspiring, remarkably tense and a profound and spiritual story on the pursuit for higher meaning in life. Ideally it’s worth seeing on film in the biggest theater possible, but seeing as you’re not going anywhere during the coronavirus, streaming will do. It's available on DirecTV.
Warner Bros.
14. "Psycho" (1960)

Alfred Hitchock’s “Psycho” is as tightly wound of a thriller as you’ll ever see, using imposing black and white cinematography and Bernard Hermann’s riveting score to brilliantly set the mood. Just don’t take a shower afterwards. You can watch it on Amazon in collaboration with Starz.

Paramount Pictures
13. "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" (1977)

Ok, we’re guessing you’ve seen this one already or maybe heard of it. But if you are doing a marathon of the AFI Top 100 list, it’s worth it to see the wonder, creativity and old-fashioned charms of George Lucas’ original “Star Wars” film in the context of all the other classics on this list. It’s available on Disney+.
Fox
12. "The Searchers" (1956)

You can watch John Ford's "The Searchers," starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood, on DirecTV.
Warner Bros.
11. "City Lights" (1931)

Charlie Chaplin's lovely "City Lights" is available for streaming on The Criterion Channel is a great place to start for anyone new to silent cinema.
United Artists
10. "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

The famous movie about Dorothy and her journey to Oz, directed by Victor Fleming, is available for your viewing pleasure on Fubo.
MGM
9. "Vertigo" (1958)

Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo," starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, in collaboration with Starz.
Paramount Pictures
8. "Schindler's List" (1993)

Steven Spielberg's famous World War II drama is available on Amazon Prime Video, in collaboration with Starz.
Universal Pictures
7. "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962)

David Lean's 3 hour 48 min drama is available on Crackle -- however, you'll have to watch it with ads.
Columbia Pictures
6. "Gone With the Wind" (1939)

It's not on streaming. Tough luck.

Warner Bros.
5. "Singin' in the Rain" (1952)

It's not on streaming. Tough luck.

MGM
4. "Raging Bull" (1980)

You can watch Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull" on Amazon Prime. The film stars Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent and Cathy Moriarty.
United Artists
3. "Casablanca" (1943)

It's not on streaming. Tough luck.
Warner Bros.
2. "The Godfather" (1972)

It's not on streaming. Tough luck.

Paramount
1. "Citizen Kane" (1941)

It's not on streaming. Tough luck.
Paramount