Trump: Baltimore Residents 'Living in Hell'

He continues criticism of Rep. Elijah Cummings
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 30, 2019 11:32 AM CDT
Trump: Baltimore Residents 'Living in Hell'
President Trump waves as he arrives on Air Force One Tuesday, July 30, 2019, at Virginia Beach, Va.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Trump isn't letting the Baltimore controversy go away. When reporters outside the White House asked him about the issue Tuesday, Trump stepped up his criticism. "Those people are living in hell in Baltimore," said the president, per CBS News. Trump again pinned the blame on Rep. Elijah Cummings and other Democratic leaders in the city and accused them of wasting federal aid that could help. He also asserted that black people enthusiastically supported his criticism. Baltimore has a "large African-American population, and they really appreciate what I’m doing," he said. "They’ve let me know it. They really appreciate it.” Trump said he knows this because of calls to the White House.

"I've received more phone calls than I think on any other subject of people from Baltimore and other cities corruptly run by Democrats, thanking me for getting involved," Trump said, per Politico. The president added that he is the "least racist person" in the world and that the flap isn't hurting him politically. "I think I'm helping myself because I'm pointing out the tremendous corruption that's taking place," he said. Trump was on his way to speak in Jamestown, Virginia, to mark the 400th anniversary of representative democracy, though that state's black lawmakers are boycotting the event because of his presence, reports the Washington Post. Trump "continues to make degrading comments toward minority leaders, promulgate policies that harm marginalized communities, and use racist and xenophobic rhetoric," says the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. (More President Trump stories.)

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