Maryland political leaders denounce Trump racism

"White House officials did not dispute the account."~ Talia Richman reported in The Baltimore Sun

Maryland lawmakers, and Baltimore Mayor Pugh condemn Trump's comments on immigrants

Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh said she was appalled by Donald Trump’s recent comments in the Oval Office, in which he reportedly said immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African nations come “from shithole countries” and questioned why they should be welcomed in by the United States.

Mayor Catherine Pugh of Baltimore, Maryland

"Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" Trump said, after lawmakers discussed restoring protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as part of a bipartisan immigration deal.

Trump’s statements, first reported by The Washington Post, have drawn widespread outrage. Trump has (lied) since denied using the word.

Pugh called upon all elected leaders, regardless of party, to condemn the president’s comments.

"Like all Americans who embrace decency and the values of diversity and inclusion, and who celebrate what made America great in the first place, I’m appalled by these latest comments of President Donald Trump regarding Haitians and people of African nations,” Pugh said in a statement. “They reinforce abhorrent racist attitudes, and evidence of the lack of knowledge, understanding, and empathy we expect of the person who occupies the highest office in the land.”

Congressman Andy Harris offered a statement on Friday in response to Trump’s comments.

“I wasn’t in the room, and I don’t know what was or wasn’t said (Maine Writer - oh paaaaleeze!....stop making apologies!), but I would hope that any president would minimize his or her use of profanity. 

But even if the president did use profanity, he would be joining Presidents Obama, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, and Truman — all of whom used profanity occasionally — some of whom even used it to describe their political opponents.”

Maryland lawmakers were quick to denounce the president’s comments on Twitter. 

Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he was “disgusted,” while Sen. Ben Cardin said Trump’s “comments do not represent America’s values.”

“I condemn this unforgivable statement and this demeaning of the office of the Presidency,” Baltimore Rep. Elijah E. Cummings said in a tweet. “I will always fight for the vulnerable among us and against bigotry in all its forms.”

A White House spokesman defended Trump's position on immigration without directly addressing Trump's remarks. White House officials did not dispute the account.

"Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people," spokesman Raj Shah said in a statement. " . . . Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation."

Speaking at an event in Prince George's County on Friday, Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen told the audience that the comments "undermine the idea behind our country, which is that we all have value and that this is a country from where people from all over the world come together."

In a television interview, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who served under Gov. Robert Ehrlich, and later served as the Republican Party chairman, said he believes the president is racist.

Rep. Anthony G. Brown, a Prince George's County Democrat, described the remark as "vulgar"and "racist."

"Whether you think President Trump is racist or not, the remark that he made yesterday directed toward Africans (and Haitians) was one in a series of racist remarks that he's said," Brown said. "I think it bespeaks of racial animus and prejudice."