President Trump in Tulsa last weekend. (Photo: Instagram)
For the second time in less than a week, President Donald Trump has slammed Detroit.
In an interview Thursday with Fox's Sean Hannity, Trump said that in Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore and Oakland, "It's like living in hell."
"Everyone gets upset when I say it, they say, 'Oh is that a racist statement?' No, it's not racist. Frankly, Black people come up to me and say 'thank you, thank you sir for saying it.' They want help," he added.
Gov. Whitmer responds:
Michiganders know better, but let's share for those who don't call our state home — what do you love about Detroit? https://t.co/SzQcScFhm3
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) June 26, 2020
Last Saturday, during a Tulsa campaign rally, Trump took a shot at Democrats and Detroit.
"Twenty of 20 of the most dangerous cities in America are controlled by Democrats," he told the crowd. "Think of that, 20 of 20. And so is nearly every major city with a child poverty rate that's over 30 percent, they're controlled by Democats. We can name every one of them.
"The murder rate in Baltimore and Detroit is higher than El Salvador, Guatemala or even Afghanistan. How they doing, the Democrats running those cities? Your whole country will be like that."
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, also reacts to the latest jab. "This impeached President needs to keep our city out of his mouth," she tweets. "He doesn't see how loving and vibrant our communities are. He's doing this to fear-monger. He's not a leader. He's acting like a dictator."
Columnist Jeff Seidel published in the Detroit Freep Press published an open letter to Trump that began:
Dear President Trump,
With all due respect, you are dead wrong.
You ripped Detroit, Baltimore and Oakland on Thursday night — “these cities, it’s like living in hell,” you said on Fox News, while talking about violence.
"Everyone gets upset when I say it. They say, 'Oh, is that a racist statement?' " Trump said. "It's not a racist (statement).”
No, Mr. President. It’s an ignorant statement.
