Victor Blackwell, co-host of CNN’s New Day Weekend program, defended his hometown Baltimore from criticism by President Donald Trump Saturday morning. Blackwell, who is black, accused Trump of racism but failed to explain the horrid conditions in West Baltimore that Trump condemned, saying only, “there are challenges, no doubt.”
Trump went after Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) on Twitter Saturday after viewing an interview on Fox & Friends with Baltimore Republican Kimberly Klacik who had posted video of the trashy, rat-infested conditions of Cummings’ West Baltimore Congressional District on Thursday.
Kimberly Klacik appeared on Fox & Friends at 6:15 EST today where she discussed the terrible living conditions in Baltimore
Klacik said: "there's abandon homes filed with trash, homeless addicts, empty needles that they have used … it's attracting rodents, cockroaches…" pic.twitter.com/AdR2P0rKwU
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) July 27, 2019
Trump tweeted a three-part statement on Cummings and Baltimore:
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……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2019
….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
Why is so much money sent to the Elijah Cummings district when it is considered the worst run and most dangerous anywhere in the United States. No human being would want to live there. Where is all this money going? How much is stolen? Investigate this corrupt mess immediately!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2019
Video of Blackwell attacking Trump as a racist on New Day Weekend was posted by CNN with the comment, “President Trump tweeted that Rep. Elijah Cummings’ district is a “rodent infested mess” where “no human being would want to live.” It’s @VictorBlackwell’s home district. “When he tweets about infestation, it’s about black and brown people,” Blackwell says.”
President Trump tweeted that Rep. Elijah Cummings’ district is a “rodent infested mess” where “no human being would want to live.”
It’s @VictorBlackwell’s home district.
“When he tweets about infestation, it's about black and brown people,” Blackwell says. pic.twitter.com/YFCvPCFhFk
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) July 27, 2019
Klacik responded to Blackwell with more video and this comment, “It is so sad to see @VictorBlackwell & @CNN turn the light currently shining on #WestBaltimore into a race issue. This could result in a positive change. @RepCummings could help get his district in order. Listen to one of his constituents explain the “rats & rodents” problem.”
It is so sad to see @VictorBlackwell & @CNN turn the light currently shining on #WestBaltimore into a race issue. This could result in a positive change. @RepCummings could help get his district in order. Listen to one of his constituents explain the "rats & rodents" problem. pic.twitter.com/LTG8AnT27x
— Kimberly Klacik (@kimKBaltimore) July 27, 2019