OAN Reporter Chanel Rion Criticized For Asking Trump If ‘Chinese Food’ Is Racist

A reporter from One America News, a right-leaning media outlet that favors President Donald Trump, took heat on social media for asking what one reporter said was “the dumbest question I’ve ever heard.”

OAN’s Chanel Rion asked, “Mr. President, do you consider the term ‘Chinese food’ to be racist because it is food that originated from China?”

“I don’t think that’s racist at all,” Trump answered.

Rion used her initial question to segue into an attack against left-leaning media, accusing them of teaming “up with Chinese communist party narratives.”

“On that note, major left-wing media, even in this room, have teamed up with Chinese communist party narratives, and they are claiming you are racist for making these claims about ‘Chinese virus,’” Rion said. “Is it alarming that major media players, just to oppose you, are siding with foreign state propaganda, Islamic radicals, and Latin gangs and cartels and they work right here out of the White House with direct access to you and your team?”

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“It amazes me when I read the things that I read,” Trump replied. “I don’t think anybody has done as much as I have done in three years. This administration has done a great job. But the press is very dishonest.”

Rion was likely trying to make a point that Trump coining the term “Chinese Virus,” instead of the coronavirus was not racist, but instead, her question immediately drew criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.

“This might be the dumbest question I’ve ever heard,” tweeted Siraj Hashmi of the Washington Examiner.

This might be the dumbest question I’ve ever heard. https://t.co/laU5gA6cQC

— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) March 19, 2020

Caleb Hull, a businessman who works with companies to optimize their brand, noted there were better things to ask “some of the most important people in the room answering questions on a global pandemic.”

An OAN reporter actually just asked with a straight face if saying “Chinese Food” is racist.

We have some of the most important people in the room answering questions on a global pandemic and this is what we’re asking them? pic.twitter.com/BrhPaPdM31

— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) March 19, 2020

Jonathan Chait, a writer for New York Magazine, said the question was designed “to charge media in the briefing room with echoing Chinese communist propaganda.”

OAN reporter uses “question” to charge media in the briefing room with echoing Chinese communist propaganda.

— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) March 19, 2020

OAN has become a favorite of Trump, due to their consistently pro-Trump coverage. Before Rion even asked her question, Trump noted that the network treats him “very nicely.”

“OAN — very good,” Trump said. “Thank you very much, they treat me very nicely. Go ahead.”