Joe Biden said that comments from Tucker Carlson that questioned Tammy Duckworth’s patriotism, and that were amplified by President Trump, were “disgusting” and “sickening.”
“I can’t tell you how I felt today when I heard the president of the United States, Donald Trump, questioning your patriotism,” the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee told Duckworth, an Illinois senator and former Army lieutenant colonel who lost both her legs in the Iraq War, after she introduced him in a virtual fundraiser on Tuesday evening. She is a top contender to be Biden’s running mate.
Fox News host Tucker Carlson criticized Duckworth on his show Monday night for suggesting in a Sunday interview that there should be a “national dialogue” about taking down statues of George Washington. After talking about Duckworth’s remarks, Carlson said: “They are not looking for any kind of colloquy. What they want is a soliloquy. We speak, you shut up and listen. … These people actually hate America.”
Trump tweeted a clip of Carlson’s remarks on Tuesday. Duckworth responded to Carlson on Monday night in a tweet: “Does @TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?”
“I found it virtually disgusting, sickening,” Biden said of the remarks. “I know you can handle yourself. I said, ‘I’m glad I wasn’t standing next to him.’ You said you can handle yourself. You already have. You’ve done that. But I just think it’s a reflection of the depravity of what’s going on in the White House right now,” he noted.
Biden showed some affection for Duckworth after she introduced him during the fundraiser: “Thank you, Tammy. You’re the best. I love you,” Biden said.
“I can’t think of anyone who has shown more courage of both kinds. I really mean it, Tammy,” Biden said. “I’m grateful for you here with me in this fight.”
The fundraiser was also hosted by California Rep. Judy Chu, actor BD Wong, and former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang.
