In case there was ever any doubt about just how racist Donald Trump is, the president’s Twitter fingers on Sunday more than confirmed exactly how he feels about Black and brown people who pose a threat to him. In no uncertain terms, the president tweeted that certain progressive Congresswomen of color should “go back” to where they came from.
Aside from how imbecilic a tweet that was (three of the four women he was probably tweeting about were born in the U.S.), Trump employed one of the oldest racist adages in the book: the old “go back to [name a ‘shithole’ country].” Democrats quickly condemned the tweets as racist while mainstream media reported the comments as racially charged instead of calling it what it is.
But Republicans have largely remained silent. That is, until Monday morning when former Utah Rep. Mia Love, who is Black, went on national live TV to head-scratchingly express how unsure she was whether the series of tweets from Sunday that Trump more than doubled-down on Monday morning proved the president is racist.
When Love was asked if she’s ever been told “to go back to a country from which you came from or which your ancestors came from,” Love appeared to play dumb.
“Oh, gosh,” she said. “The country I came from was the United States, the country I was born in.”
When Love waffled on answering whether she thought the tweets were racist, she got called out.
“You were asked if you thought the tweet the president sent out about the four women was racist and you said you didn’t like the word,” CNN contributor Frank Bruni said to Love.
“I did not run away from it,” Love replied. “I do not like using that word. I’m not going to get into the mind of somebody.”
Twitter was ablaze during and after the interview, with users in disbelief that Love wouldn’t use the opportunity to call out Trump’s behavior for exactly what it is. She certainly had no problem doing that last year after Trump called her homeland and other black and Brown nations “shithole countries.”
Love even wrote to her Republican colleagues after she was voted out of office and pleaded with them to connect with Black people after Trump mocked her losing midterm election efforts in November.
However, a closer look revealed that Love was weighing another run for congress in Utah. Chances are that her former constituents, who are 88 percent white, share similar views to the president.
Love was probably in campaign mode when she appeared on New Day Monday morning, but her comments likely did more damage to her credibility than it helped her chances of getting elected to Congress again.
Raw Story shared a clip of the interview.
In the meantime, Twitter users had a field day calling out Love for appearing to defend a president who has been open about his disdain for Black people, especially women. Scroll down to see a sample of tweets calling out Love.
1.
Y'all still listening to Mia Love???? pic.twitter.com/uvqJ22agwD
— Ant Sky (@kyhttsa) July 15, 2019
2.
Mia Love is rightfully getting dragged for her lukewarm defense of the four lawmakers Donald Trump attacked. He also went after her, but I guess she has Stockholm Syndrome or needs to be reminded that she's not the demographic he likes, despite her interracial marriage. pic.twitter.com/8jcfBa3Nn1
— Island Girl - Listen Up, Get Your Covid-Vaccine (@bluepolitics_) July 15, 2019
3.
Is Mia Love being hypnotized by Donald Trump from a remote location to defend his racist tweets about the 4 congress women on #CNN’s #NewDay? pic.twitter.com/6goKCcH0Pt
— Les J. (@LesJJr) July 15, 2019
4.
Few things are more pathetic than a person of color saying that Donald Trump is not a racist.
— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) July 15, 2019
Ex-Congresswoman Mia Love, who Trump humiliated after she lost reelection, is the latest example.
Her refusal to call him out makes it clear she wants to run for her old seat. #UT04 pic.twitter.com/bDtABZtAh8
5.
@NewDay Mia Love can't or won't call Donald Trump's statements racist because she wants/needs to maintain her illusion of inclusion to the club she thinks she's part of with her limited access. She wasn't asked about the effect, she was asked if the comments were racist! #CNN pic.twitter.com/rjwr15wyyU
— Marc (@CnoirBlaque) July 15, 2019
6.
(( Taking Mia Love's cookout plate away from her, like TI took his necklace back from Lauren London in the movie "ATL" )) pic.twitter.com/b7skyqjJnL
— B-Ball Guru (@northcyde) July 15, 2019
7.
Now on @cnn @NewDay Mia Love. What is wrong with America? Y’all betta #VoteBlue2020 🤦🏾♀️ pic.twitter.com/fYC29FYM0e
— Living Right Now. (@Janetfan4life) July 15, 2019
8.
9.
Wake up Mia Love!!! #SilenceEqualsCompliance pic.twitter.com/RFoLfGuRRP
— DrSassy (@libragirl75) July 15, 2019
10.
Sorry, Mia Love, but racism isn’t “icky” but your Stockholm Syndrome like embrace of POTUS is definitely icky AND gross. And your attenpting to justify GOP silence on this matter is disgusting. And, yes, I am black! @FrankBruni was right and you know it!!! pic.twitter.com/hsfJqL1IDJ
— John Louis Meeks, Jr (@johnmeeks1974) July 15, 2019
11.
Mia Love is disgusting. A black woman who wants to be white. The worst kind. Watching her dodge Trump's racist comments makes me despise her more. Why would you be in a party that hates you anyway! ?🤔 pic.twitter.com/2aHky5BGsD
— Independent Blue Resist (@rayofliteindark) July 15, 2019
12.
Mia Love’s weak non-defense of the four congresswoman makes me wonder why CNN continues to pay her to speak her mind if she is simply going to stan for POTUS. Racism isn’t “icky”; it’s WRONG! @alisyn_camerota @JohnBerman @FrankBruni @CNN pic.twitter.com/8hS4EGEJRL
— John Louis Meeks, Jr (@johnmeeks1974) July 15, 2019