WASHINGTON, July 28, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – US President Donald Trump defended
Sunday his latest attack on a prominent African-American lawmaker in comments
that drew more accusations of racism.
In a series of tweets on Saturday, Trump took aim at Democratic
Representative Elijah Cummings — a high-profile critic of Trump’s
administration whose district covers much of the majority black city of
Baltimore, Maryland.
“Cumming (sic) District is a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess,”
the president wrote, calling it “the worst run and most dangerous anywhere in
the United States.”
“No human being would want to live there,” he said, in an attack
ostensibly provoked by Cummings’ criticism of the harsh conditions facing
would-be asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border.
Trump’s comments triggered a torrent of criticism and he defended them on
Sunday in another burst of tweets.
“There is nothing wrong with bringing out the very obvious fact that
Congressman Elijah Cummings has done a very poor job for his district and the
City of Baltimore,” Trump said, without adding anything to back up his
argument.
“Just take a look, the facts speak far louder than words! The Democrats
always play the Race Card, when in fact they have done so little for our
Nation’s great African American people,” Trump wrote.
“Now, lowest unemployment in U.S. history, and only getting better. Elijah
Cummings has failed badly!”
Saturday’s diatribe ignited a storm of criticism less than two weeks after
the House of Representatives condemned Trump for “racist” comments targeting
four first-term Democratic congresswomen who are from ethnic minorities.
The top Democrat in Congress, Nancy Pelosi, on Saturday accused Trump of a
“racist” attack on a “champion… of civil rights and economic justice, a
beloved leader in Baltimore, and deeply valued colleague.”
“We all reject racist attacks against him,” wrote Pelosi — who was born
in Baltimore and whose father served as mayor of the city.
Former vice president Joe Biden — the Democratic frontrunner to challenge
Trump in 2020 — called out the president directly on Twitter.
“It is despicable for you to attack him and the people of Baltimore this
way,” Biden wrote. “Once again you have proved yourself unfit to hold the
office. A President is supposed to lift this nation up. Not tear it down.”
In another tweet on Sunday, Trump said Pelosi is doing a bad job
representing her district in California.
“Speaking of failing badly, has anyone seen what is happening to Nancy
Pelosi’s district in San Francisco. It is not even recognizeable lately.
Something must be done before it is too late,” he wrote.