Meghan McCain apologizes for past use of phrase ‘China virus’

“The View” co-host Meghan McCain apologized on Monday after video of her past reference to COVID-19 as the “China virus” resurfaced on HBO’s “Last Week Tonight,” hosted by comedian John Oliver.

In a tweet, McCain condemned recent physical attacks and hate speech incidents targeting Asian Americans, while adding that she wanted to “apologize for any past comments that aided that agenda.”

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

On Oliver’s show Sunday, the comedian referenced a panel discussion on “The View” last year during which McCain suggested that concerns over what nicknames people such as President Trump gave COVID-19 were overblown, and were “a great way to get Trump reelected.”

TRUMP CALLS COVID-19 “CHINESE VIRUS”: After sparking criticism for using the term, the president defended himself saying he “had to call it where it came from” — the co-hosts react. https://t.co/5ED5cehetN pic.twitter.com/az5HXhHmyH

— The View (@TheView) March 18, 2020

Prominent Asian Americans have argued that the labeling of COVID-19 as the “China virus” or other racist terms such as the “Kung flu” have contributed significantly to a rise in violence targeting their communities.

McCain’s apology comes after six Asian women died in an attack last week on three Atlanta-area massage parlors by a white suspect who told police that his attacks were sparked by sexual frustration.

A rash of other anti-Asian attacks have taken place around the country in recent weeks. An elderly woman was recently assaulted in San Francisco, Calif., and other attacks targeting older Asian Americans have taken place in several cities. A Buddhist temple primarily serving the Asian American community in Los Angeles was also set on fire and vandalized.