The Baltimore Sun‘s editorial board issued a scathing rebuke of President Trump’s Saturday tweets that Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings’ district was a “rodent infested mess” where “no human being would want to live.”
Trump attacked Cummings for the allegedly deplorable living conditions in parts of Baltimore, writing that the situation in the city was “far worse and more dangerous” than the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The op-ed, titled “Better to have a few rats than to be one,” calls Trump “the most dishonest man to ever occupy the Oval Office, the mocker of war heroes, the gleeful grabber of women’s private parts, the serial bankrupter of businesses, the useful idiot of Vladimir Putin and the guy who insisted there are ‘good people’ among murderous neo-Nazis.”
“He’s still not fooling most Americans into believing he’s even slightly competent in his current post,” the editorial board wrote. “Or that he possesses a scintilla of integrity. Better to have some vermin living in your neighborhood than to be one.”
Earlier this month, Cummings criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the crisis on the border and attacked acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan for saying the administration was doing its “level best” to handle the situation.
Trump took to Twitter to bash Cummings, calling the congressman a “brutal bully” and saying that his district “is considered the Worst in the USA.”
….As proven last week during a Congressional tour, the Border is clean, efficient & well run, just very crowded. Cumming District is a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess. If he spent more time in Baltimore, maybe he could help clean up this very dangerous & filthy place
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2019
Several Democratic leaders denounced Trump’s comments as racist, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who grew up in Baltimore and whose father was once the mayor of the city.
“Rep. Cummings is a champion in the Congress and the country for civil rights and economic justice, a beloved leader in Baltimore, and deeply valued colleague,” she tweeted. “We all reject racist attacks against him and support his steadfast leadership.”
.@RepCummings is a champion in the Congress and the country for civil rights and economic justice, a beloved leader in Baltimore, and deeply valued colleague. We all reject racist attacks against him and support his steadfast leadership. #ElijahCummingsIsAPatriot https://t.co/2LG8AuQrHh
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 27, 2019
