2020 Dems Defend Al Sharpton: ‘Shameful’ for Trump to Attack Someone Who’s ‘Done So Much for Our Country’

A few Democrats running for president have spoken out in defense of Al Sharpton after President Donald Trump blasted him on Twitter Monday.

Amid the ongoing fallout from Trump’s comments on Baltimore, and Sharpton’s response blasting POTUS, the president tweeted, “Al Sharpton would always ask me to go to his events. He would say, “it’s a personal favor to me.” Seldom, but sometimes, I would go. It was fine. He came to my office in T.T. during the presidential campaign to apologize for the way he was talking about me. Just a conman at work!”

I have known Al for 25 years. Went to fights with him & Don King, always got along well. He “loved Trump!” He would ask me for favors often. Al is a con man, a troublemaker, always looking for a score. Just doing his thing. Must have intimidated Comcast/NBC. Hates Whites & Cops! https://t.co/ZwPZa0FWfN

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2019

Baltimore, under the leadership of Elijah Cummings, has the worst Crime Statistics in the Nation. 25 years of all talk, no action! So tired of listening to the same old Bull…Next, Reverend Al will show up to complain & protest. Nothing will get done for the people in need. Sad!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2019

Al Sharpton would always ask me to go to his events. He would say, “it’s a personal favor to me.” Seldom, but sometimes, I would go. It was fine. He came to my office in T.T. during the presidential campaign to apologize for the way he was talking about me. Just a conman at work!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2019

Sharpton responded Monday saying, “Trump says I’m a troublemaker & con man. I do make trouble for bigots. If he really thought I was a con man he would want me in his cabinet.”

Trump says I’m a troublemaker & con man. I do make trouble for bigots. If he really thought I was a con man he would want me in his cabinet.

— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) July 29, 2019

Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Bill de Blasio posted statements to Twitter defending Sharpton:

.@TheRevAl has spent his life fighting for what’s right and working to improve our nation, even in the face of hate. It’s shameful, yet unsurprising that Trump would continue to attack those who have done so much for our country.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 29, 2019

.@TheRevAl has dedicated his life to the fight for justice for all. No amount of racist tweets from the man in the White House will erase that—and we must not let them divide us. I stand with my friend Al Sharpton in calling out these ongoing attacks on people of color.

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 29, 2019

Al Sharpton
Elijah Cummings
Ilhan Omar
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Ayanna Pressley
Rashida Tlaib
Maxine Waters
John Lewis
Frederica Wilson
Barack Obama@realDonaldTrump Is this really your campaign strategy? Attack as many people of color as possible? You are a disgrace.

— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) July 29, 2019

I’ve known @TheRevAl for decades and Trump’s characterization is not only disrespectful, it’s untrue. While @TheRevAl was pushing for justice in the teachings of Dr. King, Trump was calling for the execution of five innocent black boys. https://t.co/UhR1cpjpxj

— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) July 29, 2019

The candidates have drawn outrage for their comments defending Sharpton, similar to the criticisms many of the Democrats running for president got in April for attending the National Action Network Convention and “kissing his ring.” The New York Post editorial board wrote at the time, “That Sharpton — with his decades-long dubious record of racial incitement, demagoguery, corporate shakedowns, tax liens and other fiscal shenanigans — can summon Democrats like lemmings with the snap of his fingers is a deeply depressing sign of how low that party has sunk.”

Trump himself has not responded to the candidates’ tweets, but Donald Trump Jr. tweeted his reaction laughing at Harris’:

LMAO ??? https://t.co/ic7PyH8LIY

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 29, 2019

UPDATE –– 5:39 pm ET: Joe Biden also put out a statement defending Sharpton:

.@TheRevAl is a champion in the fight for civil rights. The fact that President Trump continues to use the power of the presidency to unleash racist attacks on the people he serves is despicable. This hate has no place in our country. It’s beneath the dignity of the office.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 29, 2019