President Trump claimed African-Americans are upset about a “double standard” on display in Virginia where the top three elected officials — all Democrats — face scandals.
“African Americans are very angry at the double standard on full display in Virginia!” Trump declared in a tweet Sunday morning.
African Americans are very angry at the double standard on full display in Virginia!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 10, 2019
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, both white men, are facing widespread calls from within the Democratic Party and the black community to resign after they both admitted to wearing blackface in the 1980s.
The Northam controversy began with the Feb.1 publication of a photo on his 1984 medical school yearbook page showing one man dressed up in blackface and another in Ku Klux Klan garb. Northam denies he was in the photo, but did admit he wore blackface for a Michael Jackson costume in the 1980s.
Herring admitted to wearing blackface during a college party in 1980 days later.
Despite calls from political figures, including 2020 Democrats and members of Virginia’s Legislative Black Caucus, for him to resign, black voters in Virginia are less enthusiastic about seeing Northam go. Fifty-eight percent of black residents said Northam should remain in office while only 37 percent said he should go, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll. The survey additionally shows Virginians at large are split at 47 percent apiece on Northam’s fate.
The poll also found 60 percent of residents believe Herring should not resign,
Another top Democratic official in Virginia facing controversy is Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. Fairfax, who is black, is also facing calls to resign as he denies allegations of sexual assault by two women.
