Trump Flubs Another Ethnic Tribute, Days After Jew-Free Holocaust Speech
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Like many in his administration, President Donald Trump often brags about his disdain for political correctness, and sometimes the leader of the free world is likely aware that he’s offending people. For example: on International Holocaust Remembrance Day last Friday, he spoke about the awfulness of the Nazis’ attempt to exterminate European Jewry — without mentioning Jews, or indeed any of the Nazis’ victims, such as the Roma or LGBTQ people.
But at other times, it’s not so clear. In a meeting with black lawmakers this week to celebrate the first day of Black History Month, the president hailed the Civil War-era abolitionist and civil rights leader Frederick Douglass as if he were still alive, telling the group, “Frederick Douglass is an example of someone who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I noticed.”
Here are four other instances in which he’s gotten it wrong.
1. “Two Corinthians”
Wooing the votes of evangelicals, Trump made a stop at Liberty University, the Virginia school founded by the late pastor Jerry Falwell. Citing a favorite Bible passage, he said that he was quoting “Two Corinthians,” an assertion that led the students to break out in laughter. It’s correct style to refer to the chapter of the Bible by its ordinal (“second”) rather than its cardinal (“two”) number.
2. Jews Are Hagglers
Making the rounds at the Republican Jewish Coalition last winter, Trump implied that Jews were hagglers, and traded on some ugly stereotypes in a bid to endear himself to the audience. “I know why you’re not going to support me. You’re not going to support me because I don’t want your money …Look, I’m a negotiator like you folks, we’re negotiators,” he said.
3. “My African American”
Trump was criticized throughout the campaign for a lack of support among racial minorities, and for rhetoric about black communities that was seen as demeaning. At a rally last summer, amid an overwhelmingly white crowd, he made it a point to identify one of the lone black faces in the assembly, shouting at the man, “Oh, look at my African-American over here. Look at him… Are you the greatest?”
4. Taco Bowl
And who could forget about the taco bowl from last Cinco de Mayo. After insulting Mexicans as murderers and rapists, the candidate tried to make nice with them on the fifth of May by posting a photo of him eating a taco bowl made at the Trump Tower Grill. “Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!” he wrote. It’s reported that the taco bowl is now one of the most ordered items at the Trump Grill.
Contact Daniel J. Solomon at [email protected] or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon
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