As if he’s physically addicted to controversy (or attention), President-elect Donald Trump attacked civil rights icon John Lewis during the Martin Luther King Day weekend. And the fallout has exploded all over social media.
The brouhaha started yesterday when Rep. Lewis, who actually organized with Dr. King and was brutally beaten by police in Selma, Ala., in 1965 while marching for black humanity, stated during an NBC News interview that he does not see Trump as “a legitimate president” and will not be attending his inauguration.
Saturday morning, Trump tweeted that Lewis is “all talk” and “no action”—which many begged to differ with.
“Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!,” Trump wrote.
Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017
mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017
Lewis represents a Georgia district that includes most of Atlanta, which many know to be a thriving African-American metropolis. On the campaign trail, Trump regularly said that majority black communities were wastelands filled with rampant crime and piss-poor education, which he said he would fix.
Democrats swiftly condemned Trump, as did many Americans, prompting Lewis’ name to trend on Twitter.
California Sen. Kamala Harris tweeted, “John Lewis is an icon of the Civil Rights Movement who is fearless in the pursuit of justice and equality. He deserves better than this.”
John Lewis is an icon of the Civil Rights Movement who is fearless in the pursuit of justice and equality. He deserves better than this. https://t.co/WX1QDCKfzP
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 14, 2017
Rep. Keith Ellison, who is vying to become the Democratic National Committee chairman, said Trump has “no clue.”
“.@repjohnlewis knows true sacrifice. @realDonaldTrump has no clue. When cluelessness collides with power oppression results. Resistance,” the Minnesota lawmaker wrote.
.@repjohnlewis knows true sacrifice. @realDonaldTrump has no clue. When cluelessness collides with power oppression results. Resistance! https://t.co/Eu1vWbetsl
— Keith Ellison (@keithellison) January 14, 2017
Others were incensed that Trump seems to have more respect for Russian president Vladimir Putin and KKK leader David Duke than Lewis.
John Lewis was the perfect person to state trump is an illegitimate POTUS. his record is unassailable and he knew trump would take the bait.
— ??Imani Gandy Cane?? (@AngryBlackLady) January 14, 2017
It’s telling, I’m afraid, that Donald Trump treats Vladimir Putin with more respect than he does John Lewis.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) January 14, 2017
At this time, Lewis has not responded, but at least five other lawmakers said that they too will not be attending Trump’s inauguration on Friday.