CNN's Don Lemon and Anderson Cooper don't mince words: Trump's comments were 'racist'
Nobody should be surprised Donald Trump said something racist. Before election day, he said many undocumented Mexican immigrants were "rapists" and criminals, and his company was sued by the Justice Department for discriminating against black tenants — way back in 1973.
And yet, he continues to outdo himself. "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" he reportedly said on Thursday, referring to people from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries. He then suggested bringing in more immigrants from Norway — you know, white people.
SEE ALSO: Trump reportedly asked why the US accepts people from 'sh*thole' countries
On CNN, Don Lemon and Anderson Cooper had enough. "He is a racist," Lemon said of the president, before telling Trump supporters to take a good, hard look at themselves.
.@donlemon on President Trump: "He is a racist ... but it's more important to be strategic than outraged" https://t.co/YhQrjiIOKr
— CNN (@CNN) January 12, 2018
Then, Anderson Cooper took Trump to task, calling his comments "not racial, not racially charged, racist."
Anderson Cooper: "Not racial. Not racially charged. Racist ... The sentiment the President expressed today is a racist sentiment" https://t.co/uZZKQOhfTv
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) January 12, 2018
The White House hasn't denied Trump made the comment, which might be hard to do, since there was reportedly a group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the room.
And, really, it's not like America didn't know he was racist before the election. And the country elected him anyway. Still, 68 percent of Americans believe openness to the outside world is "essential to who we are as a nation," according to a Pew Research poll from August. Hopefully, they'll make their voices heard in the coming elections.
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