Donald Trump getting slammed for something controversial he said is an everyday occurrence, but a tweet thread he dropped Sunday led to even more backlash than usual. While attacking the “squad,” the quartet comprised of first-year congresswomen of color online, he told them they should “go back” to their home countries, even though three are American-born. His tweets were swiftly condemned as racist, and even a few — and, so far, only a few — on his side took umbrage.
One of those was Geraldo Rivera, a longtime Trump friend who has mostly stuck by him as he’s evolved into one of the most controversial commanders-in-chief in the nation’s history. He tried to offer a complex take on the president’s latest disaster, while pleading for some sanity.
Sad to watch my friend @realDonaldTrump take low road regarding @AOC of the Bronx, @RashidaTlaib of Detroit @AyannaPressley of Boston & @Ilhan of Somalia & Minneapolis. Let’s stick to issues & steer clear of language that’s xenophobic even racist. @POTUS you’re better than that.
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) July 14, 2019
“Sad to watch my friend @realDonaldTrump take low road regarding @AOC of the Bronx, @RashidaTlaib of Detroit @AyannaPressley of Boston & @Ilhan of Somalia & Minneapolis,” Rivera said, pointedly listing each congresswoman’s hometown. “Let’s stick to issues & steer clear of language that’s xenophobic even racist. @POTUS you’re better than that.”
Well, it probably seemed like a good idea at the time. What stuck out to most people was the kicker — the “you’re better than that” directed at someone who — day in, day out, over the decades, and especially since assuming the most powerful office in the world — perhaps is not.
https://twitter.com/Osman__13/status/1150521404703436800
But Trump is not “better than that,” Geraldo. This is who he’s always been. Did you sleep through Birtherism and what he said about Judge Curiel? https://t.co/BuTQBJkyT9
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) July 14, 2019
Trump: I’m a racist
Geraldo: You’re better than that
Trump: No I’m not
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) July 14, 2019
If Geraldo is urging you to take the high road you are doing something very wrong https://t.co/xb71oJyvYm
— Mark Follman (@markfollman) July 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/themaxburns/status/1150523623897219072
FUN FACT: Inside Geraldo's head where most people have brains there is, in fact, another mustache. https://t.co/yG6TVitw2R
— Charles Evans (@banditref) July 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/fullmoonfevered/status/1150529211993657344
No, Geraldo, he’s *NOT* better than this. You’re a fucking idiot, just like your “friend.” https://t.co/AShIDCa1LL
— Susan Neel 🟧 (@rieslingirl) July 14, 2019
When Geraldo says Trump is "better than this" he doesn't mean Trump has a nonracist side he just means Trump isn't using the media approved coded racist language they all use for plausible deniability at dinner parties.
— Pieces Energy (@MercurialMiss) July 14, 2019
You may be in trouble when Geraldo comes off as high minded… https://t.co/pJA9gZ81Bf
— Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) July 14, 2019
Of course, the easiest way to disprove Rivera’s thesis about Trump’s deeply buried innate decency is to utter these four words:
Google “Central Park Five”
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) July 14, 2019