COVID-19 coverage spurred rise in anti-Asian hate, especially among Trump supporters: study

A recent study published in American Politics Research finds a clear link between COVID-19 news coverage and declining favorability toward Asians. Researchers discovered that as national media attention on coronavirus intensified — and COVID-19 deaths increased in respondents’ states — public perception of Asians dropped significantly. The study highlights how contextual pandemic coverage, particularly early reporting emphasizing the virus’s origins in China, triggered scapegoating across the U.S.

The effect was notably stronger among individuals who supported then-President Donald Trump. The research shows that partisan cues and pandemic-related rhetoric deepened bias, with Trump supporters exhibiting a steeper drop in pro-Asian sentiment compared to others. Earlier studies further trace this pattern to the use of terms like “China virus” and “Kung flu” by Trump and his allies, which corresponded with surges in anti-Asian online content and real-world hate incidents.

These findings coincide with broader data showing that anti-Asian hate crimes surged — from 158 reported incidents in 2019 to 279 in 2020 and 746 in 2021 based on FBI statistics. While coverage of the COVID-19 crisis remains essential, the study’s results underscore the urgent need for responsible journalism. Experts noted that non-stigmatizing language could play a critical role in preventing public health reporting from fueling racial animus.