Presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden is seeking the support of Asian Americans after criticising the incumbent president for “xenophobia”.
Last week, President Trump triggered controversy by using the phrase “Kung Flu” to describe the Coronavirus.
Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany separately defended the president.
Speaking to the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote’s presidential forum, Biden highlighted the plights of the demographic.
“Asian Americans are being targeted with violence and subjected to xenophobic rhetoric from the mouth of the president himself,” Biden said.
“Our AAPI community is essential. Period. Period. Not just as essential workers, but essential to the very fabric of this nation.”
On Tuesday, Biden revealed he has shortlisted an Asian running mate.
“There are a number of women of color, there are Latino women, there are Asian, across the board,’ Biden told reporters during a speech and press conference at a Delaware high school.
Illinois Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin, whose mother was Thai-Chinese, is one of Biden’s running mate contenders.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, whose mother was also Thai-Chinese, is also a possible running mate.
In related news, former president Barack Obama recently condemned Trump for “anti-Asian sentiment”.
