Elaine Chao Broke Her Silence on Donald Trump’s Racist Attack Against Her With a Very Rare Statement

It’s no secret that Donald Trump and Republican Party Senate leader Mitch McConnell no longer see eye to eye — the men often spar publicly. However, the former president’s latest attacks hit far below the belt and have been directed at McConnell’s wife, former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, who was a part of his administration.

After listening to her former boss call her “Coco Chow” and McConnell’s “China-loving wife,” Chao, who immigrated from Taiwan as a child, has decided to speak up about Donald Trump’s racist rants. “When I was young, some people deliberately misspelled or mispronounced my name. Asian Americans have worked hard to change that experience for the next generation,” Chao said in a statement to Politico. “He doesn’t seem to understand that, which says a whole lot more about him than it will ever say about Asian Americans.”

More from SheKnows

• Marjorie Taylor Greene Reportedly Believes She's on the 'Short List' To Be Donald Trump's 2024 Running Mate

In an era where anti-Asian rhetoric has been on the rise with the recent mass shootings and Donald Trump’s “China virus” speeches during the pandemic, Chao’s voice is an important one to listen to. She’s received very little support from other members of the Republican Party, who let the former president freely speak without consequence no matter how damaging his words are. Florida Sen. Rick Scott has only meekly said, “It’s never, ever OK to be a racist,” after one of Donald Trump’s Truth Social attacks against Chao. He told CNN in October, “I think you always have to be careful; you know if you’re in the public eye … how you say things. You want to make sure you’re inclusive.” Donald Trump’s name is never mentioned or called out for his harmful words.

Chao stood by Donald Trump during his tumultuous administration and only broke ties with him after the Jan. 6 insurrection, saying in her resignation letter that the events “deeply troubled me in a way I simply cannot set aside.” That’s when Donald Trump’s attacks against her escalated, but she has sat back in silence because she feels the news cycle feeds his ego. Chao has had enough and calling out Donald Trump was her plea to not only get him to stop, but for the GOP to step up and support the Asian-American community.

Click here to read the full article.

Before you go, click here to see the biggest presidential scandals in US History.

Launch Gallery: 8 Times Ivanka Trump Has Attempted to Distance Herself From the Trump Family

Best of SheKnows

• 70 of Salma Hayek’s Most Enchanting Red Carpet Moments

• 40 Times Julia Roberts' Iconic Red Carpet Fashion Took Our Breath Away

• Paris Hilton & Carter Reum, Riley Keough & Ben Smith-Petersen, & More Celebrities Who Managed to Keep Their Baby News a Secret

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter.
For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.