President Donald Trump was photographed reading from notes at Thursday's coronavirus task force press conference where the word "corona" was crossed out and replaced with "Chinese" to described COVID-19.
The photograph was taken by The Washington Post photographer Jabin Botsford in a shot showing the word crossed out by what appeared to be Sharpie and in the president's own handwriting.
"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," Botsford tweeted.
When Trump delivered that part of his remarks, however, he skipped over the word "Chinese," simply describing the coronavirus as "the virus," the Post noted.
Trump has repeatedly referred to the coronavirus as "the Chinese virus," a phrase that critics have argued is racist and puts Asian Americans at risk. He has defended the usage, arguing that is where the pandemic erupted.
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