Elaine Chao Blasts Media Over Use Of Trump's 'Racist Taunt'

Elaine Chao , former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and wife of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), criticized media outlets referencing former President Donald Trump s racist taunt on Thursday.

Chao, who served for nearly four years under the former president until her resignation after last years Jan. 6 insurrection , weighed in on Trumps nickname for her which he has used toward her in the past during an interview with CNN s Kaitlan Collins. (You can hear Chaos comments below).

Trump used the term which has been viewed as racist and anti-Asian on Truth Social twice since Monday to refer to Chao, the first-ever Asian American woman to serve in a U.S. presidents cabinet.

Chao told Collins, who showed the post that included the slur to CNN viewers, that itd be really helpful for the media to not repeat Trumps racist language.

If it were the N-word, or any other word, the media would not repeat it. But the media continuously repeats his racist taunt, Chao said.

And so, hes trying to get a rise out of us. He says all sorts of outrageous things, and I dont make a point of answering any of one of them, Chao added.

After Trump revived his racist nickname of her overnight, Former Trump Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao says, Hes trying to get a rise out of us. He says all sorts of outrageous things, and I don't make a point of answering any of one of them. pic.twitter.com/Nd6PqPyJGm

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After Trump revived his racist nickname of her overnight, Former Trump Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao says, Hes trying to get a rise out of us. He says all sorts of outrageous things, and I don't make a point of answering any of one of them. pic.twitter.com/Nd6PqPyJGm
Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) December 29, 2022

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Trumps most recent use of the moniker came during a dig at McConnell for his support of the $1.7 trillion spending bill Congress passed last week.

Chao, who immigrated from Taiwan , chose not to weigh in on the former presidents nickname when he used it last week and called on Asian Americans to rise above divisive rhetoric, the San Francisco Standard reported .

I say to my fellow Asian Americans, number one: dont be afraid of the country, Chao said. Always be proud of our heritage because now America is more diverse.