House GOP Leader: Pelosi promoting Chinese Communist Party 'propaganda' with 'Trump virus' comment

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said Thursday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is promoting Chinese Communist Party propaganda by referring to the COVID-19 pandemic as the "Trump Virus."

Pelosi used the "Trump Virus" term during a recent interview with CNN.

"They lied to us. They lied about the virus and thousands of people have died and now the Democrats do not believe it's the Chinese fault," McCarthy said during a press conference. "Why does the speaker promote their propaganda by trying to blame the president of the United States for the Chinese Communist Party lies, even calling the virus in the name of our president?"

McCarthy called on Democrats to hold China accountable for the spread of the coronavirus across the globe.

"Why did Joe Biden just yesterday say it's wrong to hold China accountable? When I look around the world from Italy, to the UK to Australia, no one else is saying that. They have felt the pain of the lost lives. They've seen the heartache and the economic damage that has been done, and they understand the lie that China has given," he said. 

"If we want our children and grandchildren to live in the same country we are blessed to live in, it is time Democratic leaders in this country wake up and stop cowering to the Chinese Communist Party. The stakes are too high for an apology tour and leadership by appeasement," he added.

McCarthy said House Democrats should support his legislation to take action against foreign hackers for attempting to steal data related to the coronavirus vaccine.

"My final question would be, what does the Chinese Communist Party have on the Democrats? Why can't they hold them accountable?" he said.

Alleged Chinese hackers were recently charged for targeting firms that were working on a COVID-19 vaccine.

"On a day that they are arrested for hacking in to the companies to steal a vaccine to save millions of lives not just for America, but around the world, the voice of the Democrats, where it's not the Chinese fault, and let's not hold them accountable, and they vote against an ability to sanction those who hacking in slowing the pursuit of a vaccine. That's unacceptable and most of all, it's un-American," McCarthy said.