The president finally responded this morning from the Oval Office. \u201cThat I can tell you is horrible. I\u2019ve seen it\u2026 last night.\u2026<\/b>
\nThe president finally responded this morning from the Oval Office.
\u201cThat I can tell you is horrible. I\u2019ve seen it\u2026 last night. It doesn\u2019t get worse, as far as I\u2019m concerned.\u201d
Smollett reported that he was taunted by two men who beat him, doused him with bleach, and placed a rope tied as a noose around his neck before asserting that this was \u201cMAGA country.\u201d
Supporters of the talented actor and singer, like Reverend Al Sharpton, say that Donald Trump needs to specifically denounce the attackers and the attack \u2013saying that this is unacceptable. Sharpton says that the attack on Smollett is a hate crime personified.
\u201cThis is hate on steroids.\u201d
«The main driver of terrorism does not hide in a cave in Pakistan, he sits in the Oval Office.»https:\/\/t.co\/fzMfzseSmR
\u2014 BET (@BET) January 29,2019
When the Charlottesville riots resulted in the death of a \u201cNo Hate\u201d protester by a man affiliated with the White Nationalist march, Trump stated that there were \u201cgood people on both sides\u201d of the conflict \u2014 therefor, many skeptics have been waiting to hear what the president has to say about a purported hate crime attack on Jussie Smollett.
Award-winning journalist Jemele Hill stated on a recent podcast that she thought it was widely understood that Trump was a racist. She said it was a given, like water is wet.
She said, for clarity, that Trump is \u201ca bigot, unqualified, and unfit.\u201d
Other journalists \u2014 like ABC\u2019s Jonathan Karl \u2014 have pointed out that there are no prominent people of color in the West Wing of the White House.
\u201cWhat does that say to have not a single senior adviser in the West Wing who is African American?\u201d
The media and Trump\u2019s critics wait to see if the president will make further remarks on the issue.<\/p>\n