A Chinese American civil rights group have brought the legal action against him.
Donald Trump is being sued by a civil rights group in America over his use of the terms such as “China virus” when describing or referring to Covid-19. The Chinese American group are alleging that the former president fueled anti-Asian hate crime in the US.
During his term in office and upon leaving the White House, the former president frequently referred to the novel coronavirus disease as the “China virus” the “Wuhan virus” and “Kung Flu”, and has defended his use of the terms when confronted.
TMZ reports that the Chinese American Civil Rights Coalition (CACRC) is suing Mr Trump for roughly $22.9m (£16m), alleging defamation and infliction of emotional distress for his continued use of such phrases.
Critics argue that the use of these terms provoked discrimination against the Asian American community and claim that it has contributed to the recent rise on violence against Chinese and Asian Americans.
A study based on police statistics across major US cities in March found that there had been a nearly 150% rise in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes in 2020, following the outbreak of the pandemic.
In March this year Trump faced renewed criticism for his language and rhetoric after a shooting in Atlanta in which a 21-year-old man allegedly killed eight people, many of which were women of Asian descent.
The CACRC claims in the lawsuit that Trump should not have used the terms as it is not entirely clear where the virus originated from.
The sum demanded represents $1 for every Asian American and Pacific Islander living in the United States, and if they are successful in their claim then the group plan to use the money to set up a museum commemorating the history of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the US.
