Charlie Kirk did not create the phrase “China Virus.”
That phrase was most prominently popularized by former President Donald Trump in early 2020, referring to COVID-19’s origin in Wuhan, China. Trump repeatedly used it in speeches, press conferences, and on Twitter.
However, Charlie Kirk did use and amplify it.
• On his podcast and social media, Kirk often referred to COVID-19 as the “China Virus” or “Wuhan Virus.”
• He used the term in criticizing the Chinese government and in pushing conspiracy theories that the virus might have been leaked from a lab.
• Kirk’s use of the phrase aligned with broader right-wing rhetoric at the time, but he wasn’t the originator.
So in short: He didn’t invent the phrase, but he embraced and spread it.