White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley clarified what President Trump meant by “lynching” a few moments ago during an interview with Fox News:
Gidley on Fox: Trump "wasn't trying to compare himself to the horrific history in this country at all. What he was trying to point out, clearly, was that he has been attacked relentlessly by the mainstream media, without cause, without evidence, since the day he took over." https://t.co/AoS1RVicsT
— David Martosko (@dmartosko) October 22, 2019
Gidley also met with reporters in a press gaggle in front of the White House:
WH Deputy Press Sec Hogan Gidley on Trump’s “lynching” tweet.
“He’s not comparing himself to those dark times.” (Responding to a Q from @PaulaReidCBS about why the President keeps going to back to racial animus)
“He’s not being hanged from a tree” – @dmartosko says to Gidley.
— Karen Travers (@karentravers) October 22, 2019
This clarification from the White House fits with what other senators are saying, including Sen. Tim Scott, the lone black Republican:
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) on President Trump comparing impeachment to lynching: “There’s no question that the impeachment process is the closest thing to a political death row trial so I get his absolute rejection of the process. I wouldn’t use the word lynching.
— Jared Halpern (@JaredHalpern) October 22, 2019
This tweet doesn’t feel like a coincidence:
Great Job Tim! https://t.co/WhgO67CfKP
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2019
But the White House does prefer Sen. Lindsey Graham’s defense:
Asked specifically about Sen. Tim Scott, the GOP's only black senator, saying he wouldn't have used the word "lynching"… WH spokesman Hogan Gidley said that South Carolina's other senator, Lindsey Graham, agreed with Trump: "But look Senator Graham said it was a perfect word."
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) October 22, 2019
Which he “doubled down” on with reporters:
Graham just angrily doubled down on agreeing this is a political “lynching”
“What’s happened to your profession?” he scolds reporters
“It’s not just racial my friends. No. I’m from South Carolina I understand it very well. Mob rule is what lynching is all about”
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) October 22, 2019
But don’t expect Dems to give up anytime soon:
Lynching
is a horrific stain on our country’s history.
The “president’s” tweet is comparing a constitutional process to the prevalent and systematic brutal torture and murder of thousands.
I repeat,
THOUSANDS of African Americans
in this country.It's unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/0zXYT6fvNW
— The Black Caucus (@TheBlackCaucus) October 22, 2019
***
Related:
Making 'lynching' great again? Resistance hero Rob Reiner declares that 'Democracy is being lynched by a Racist Liar' https://t.co/0PPS9qVzb0
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 22, 2019
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