President Trump called Rep. Elijah Cummings a racist while defending himself against accusations of racism for having criticized the Maryland Democrat.
Trump made blunt statements about the current state of Baltimore on Saturday and Sunday, accusing Cummings of failing to represent his district well. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leading Democrats came to Cummings’ defense, accusing Trump of being a racist and attacking minority members of Congress.
“If racist Elijah Cummings would focus more of his energy on helping the good people of his district, and Baltimore itself, perhaps progress could be made in fixing the mess that he has helped to create over many years of incompetent leadership. His radical ‘oversight’ is a joke!” Trump tweeted.
If racist Elijah Cummings would focus more of his energy on helping the good people of his district, and Baltimore itself, perhaps progress could be made in fixing the mess that he has helped to create over many years of incompetent leadership. His radical “oversight” is a joke!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2019
Trump followed up with another tweet touting the record-low unemployment numbers for African Americans, writing, “Under the Trump Administration, African American unemployment is the lowest (best) in the history of the United States. No President has come close to doing this before! I also created successful Opportunity Zones. Waiting for Nancy and Elijah to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. President!'”
Under the Trump Administration, African American unemployment is the lowest (best) in the history of the United States. No President has come close to doing this before! I also created successful Opportunity Zones. Waiting for Nancy and Elijah to say, “Thank you, Mr. President!”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2019
The tweets are the latest in a heated back-and-forth between the president and those who deem his sentiments against Cummings racist. Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney maintained in a Sunday interview with Chris Wallace that the president attacks ideas, not race.
