The widow of former Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings anguished over how President Trump’s remarks about her husband’s district had an effect on him in his final months.
Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, who is running to fill her husband’s vacant seat in Congress, shared her disappointment over Trump’s decision to criticize Baltimore while her husband battled long-standing health issues.
In July, Trump tweeted, “Rep, Elijah Cummings has been a brutal bully, shouting and screaming at the great men & women of Border Patrol about conditions at the Southern Border, when actually his Baltimore district is FAR WORSE and more dangerous. His district is considered the Worst in the USA.”
He added, “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.”
….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
During a Monday appearance on The View, Rockeymoore Cummings claimed that Trump’s harsh words about Baltimore hurt her husband. She explained, “It hurt him at his worst moment. Elijah was already battling health issues, and so to have the president come out and do this at that time, you know, it really depressed him, and it stressed him, and I think it undermined his health.”
Rockeymoore Cummings also claimed that Trump’s supporters harassed her and her family while her husband was sick, saying, “All of his minions out there, you know, nasty tweets, death threats, you name it. We were going through it.”
Co-host Meghan McCain reflected on her family’s feud with Trump and called the president’s remarks “horrific,” adding, “I’m deeply sorry for your family.”
Rockeymoore Cummings, 48, was also battling illness at the time of her husband’s death. She underwent a double mastectomy to overcome breast cancer just weeks after the congressman died at age 68 in October. He signed subpoenas against members of the Trump administration in his final hours.
[Read more: Elijah Cummings wife: ‘Worked until his last breath’]
