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Trump Doubles Down on Attacks on Baltimore, Congressman Cummings

VOANews

   Steve Herman contributed to this report.

   President Donald Trump defended again Tuesday what critics are
   characterizing as racist rhetoric, focused on the majority African
   American city of Baltimore and one of its prominent representatives in
   Congress, Elijah Cummings, whose powerful committee is trying to obtain
   communications of White House officials, including the president's
   family members.

   Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump defended his
   recent inflammatory remarks, saying "I think I'm helping myself because
   I'm pointing out the tremendous corruption that's taken place in
   Baltimore and other Democratic-run cities."

   Trump said "Those people are living in hell in Baltimore" and that
   "largely African American" city residents have let him know "they
   really appreciated what I'm doing." He also said he is the "least
   racist person in the world"

   Trump doubled down on his criticism of Cummings, claiming "all that
   money that's been spent (in Baltimore) over 20 years has been stolen
   and wasted by people like Elijah Cummings."

   On Monday, Trump falsely stated Baltimore has nation's worst crime
   statistics under Cummings' leadership.
   
   While Baltimore has a high crime rate, several other cities --
   including St. Louis, Detroit and Memphis -- are ranked more dangerous,
   according to recent crime statistics

   A critical series of tweets targeting Cummings began Saturday and has
   continued, with Trump referring to the congressman's district as "a
   disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess."

   Government statistics show, however, that Cummings's district, which
   includes impoverished parts of Baltimore and well-off suburban enclaves
   adjoining the city, has higher per capita income and higher median home
   values than the national average.

   The focus on the Baltimore area and its congressman comes amid Trump
   battling over the past week on social media with others he has singled
   out for criticism, including two friendly nations: France and Sweden.
   Trump also recently has been assailing four first-term Democratic
   lawmakers, all women of color, saying they should "go back" to their
   home countries, even though all four are American citizens, three of
   them by birth and the fourth, a Somali refugee, through naturalization.

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