Politics

Trump Calls Baltimore ‘Disgusting, Rat And Rodent Infested Mess’

Baltimore_Museum_of_Art | Circa August 2008 | By Nrswanson (talk) at en.wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump is not a fan of Baltimore, or the Democratic lawmaker that represents much of the city in Congress.

In a series of tweets on Saturday, the Republican described the Maryland metropolis as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” that is “a very dangerous & filthy place.”

Trump went on the diatribe during an attack on Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings over the Democrat’s comments at a House hearing earlier this month with border patrol officials.

Cummings, the chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, erupted at acting Department of Homeland Security Sec. Kevin McAleenan during a hearing about the southern border July 18.

After McAleenan said government officials are “doing our best” to handle the immigration crisis at the border, Cummings went off.

“What does that mean? What does that mean when a child is sitting in their own feces, can’t take a shower? Come on, man. What’s that about? None of us would have our children in that position. They are human beings,” Cummings shouted in response.

Trump accused Cummings Saturday of being a “brutal bully” who berated “the great men & women of Border Patrol.”

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

Trump asserted that Cummings’ district, which includes half of the city of Baltimore and surrounding areas, has squandered government resources. Trump also called for an investigation into government spending on the district.

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

Baltimore has one of the highest murder rates of any major American city. In 2017, Baltimore posted the highest murder rate of any city with a population greater than 500,000, CBS Baltimore reported. There were 342 murders in 2017, and 309 last year, according to the New York Times.

The rise has been linked to the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died while riding in a police van after he was arrested.