'Ask China that question': Trump's bizarre tirade at journalist

US President Donald Trump has abruptly ended a press conference about the coronavirus after a testy exchange with two reporters.

During the press conference Trump said “no matter how you look at it, America is leading the world in testing”.

He also stood beside a sign that said “America leads the world in testing”.

CBS reporter Weijia Jiang, who identifies herself on Twitter as a "Chinese born West Virginian", asked Trump why his administration was so eager to broadcast its coronavirus testing numbers.

"Why does that matter? Why is this a global competition to you if every day Americans are still losing their lives and we’re still seeing more cases every day," Ms Jiang asked.

The US has become the coronavirus epicentre, with more than 1.3 million confirmed cases and more than 80,000 deaths.

“Well, they’re losing their lives everywhere in the world,” Trump said in response to Ms Jiang’s question.

“And maybe that’s a question you should ask China. Don’t ask me. Ask China that question. Okay? When you ask them that question, you may get a very unusual answer.”

President Trump then called upon another reporter, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who allowed for Ms Jiang to interject.

“Sir, why are you saying that to me, specifically, that I should ask China?” Ms Jiang asked, while Ms Collins steps back from the microphone.

“I’m not saying it specifically to anybody. I’m saying it to anybody that would ask a nasty question like that,” Trump responded.

Ms Jiang protests again but is ignored by the president who points to a third journalist to ask a question, even though Ms Collins is already at the microphone to ask her questions.

“But you pointed to me?” Ms Collins said, while Trump dismissed her calling ,“next”.

President Trump said he was calling on another journalist, later identified as PBS White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor, because Ms Collins didn’t respond.

"I just wanted to let my colleague finish," Ms Collins explained.

"But can I ask you a question?"

It was then Trump decided to end the press conference in the Rose Garden.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much,” he said leaving the podium.

After the press conference, Ms Jiang and Ms Alcindor took to Twitter to explain what happened.

“@kaitlancollins allowed me to ask a follow up question after the President called on her, and then @Yamiche deferred to Kaitlan,” Ms Jiang wrote on a retweet of Ms Alcindor’s tweet.

“I am fortunate to work alongside them.”

Social media erupted with criticism for the president following his dramatic departure.

“Two women reporters @weijia & @kaitlancollins just scared @realDonaldTrump off the stage,” Lawrence O'Donnell tweeted.

While Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders branded President Trump as “pretty pathetic”.

“Mr Trump is a coward who tears down others to make himself feel powerful,” Senator Sanders tweeted.

Many praised the three female journalists for their solidarity.

As CNN noted, this was not the first time Ms Jiang was subject to racism at the White House.

In March the White House correspondent explained on Twitter an unnamed official called the coronavirus “Kung-Flu”.

“Makes me wonder what they’re calling it behind my back,” she said.

According to the Associated Press, Ms Jiang has worked for CBS News since 2015, was born in Xiamen, China, and emigrated to the United States with her family at age two.

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Monday’s briefing was meant to highlight the availability of COVID-19 testing as the White House seeks to convince Americans the country is safely reopening.

“They should all be able to get a test right now,” Trump said, even though experts say there is no capacity for testing on that scale.

Officials later clarified that “everybody who needs a test can get a test”.

− With Associated Press

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