After President Donald Trump compared the House impeachment inquiry to a “lynching” on Tuesday morning, Republicans are split over Trump invoking the country’s painful history of violence against black people as part of his whining about the inquiry.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, ever the Trump loyalist (well, for the most part), reliably backed the President’s language.
“When it’s about Trump, who cares about the process, as long as you get him?” Graham said. “So yeah, this is a lynching in every sense.”
Graham backs up Trump's "lynching" comment about impeachment inquiry: "Yeah, this is a lynching in every sense." pic.twitter.com/va93ja4SSG
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) October 22, 2019
On the other hand, Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD), the second highest-ranking Republican in the chamber, denounced Trump’s comparison.
“That’s not appropriate in any context,” the Republican leader said, per the Hill. “It’s just inappropriate.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) also pushed back on the President’s comment.
“It’s not the language I would use,” he said before repeating the GOP talking point that House Democrats weren’t allowing due process in the impeachment proceedings.
“I don’t agree with that language,” McCarthy responded when a reporter pressed him on Trump’s tweet. “It’s pretty simple.”
Kevin McCarthy on Trump's "lynching" tweet: "I don't agree with that language" pic.twitter.com/ZQwVmssIsH
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) October 22, 2019
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Graham’s South Carolina colleague and the only black GOP senator, gave a measured response.
“The impeachment process is the closest thing of a political death row trial, so I get his absolute rejection of the process,” Scott told reporters. “I wouldn’t use the word ‘lynching.'”
Sen. Tim Scott on Trump's "lynching" tweet: "I wouldn't use the word lynching" pic.twitter.com/daFw9bgomB
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) October 22, 2019
(After several hours of backlash over his racist language, Trump tweeted praise to Scott apparently apropos of nothing.)
Great Job Tim! https://t.co/WhgO67CfKP
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2019
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) criticized Trump via Twitter.
“Lynching” brings back images of a terrible time in our nation’s history, and the President never should have made that comparison.
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) October 22, 2019
