Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:49 pm
President-elect Trump called Rep. John Lewis a liar because he is still enraged that the Civil Rights icon questioned his presidential legitimacy, and in the process demonstrated why he is the most hated/least popular president-elect in the history of polling.
After complaining that his job approval polls are rigged, Trump lashed out at Rep. Lewis:
John Lewis said about my inauguration, "It will be the first one that I've missed." WRONG (or lie)! He boycotted Bush 43 also because he…
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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2017
"thought it would be hypocritical to attend Bush's swearing-in….he doesn't believe Bush is the true elected president." Sound familiar! WP
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2017
In less than three days, Trump is going to become the next president. Instead of getting ready for the most challenging job in the world, the president-elect is dragging a Civil Rights icon’s name through the mud.
Does it really matter if Lewis didn’t attend Bush 43’s inauguration?
No.
People had lots of questions about George W. Bush’s presidential legitimacy too, and his presidency turned out to be a total disaster, so George W. Bush isn’t a defense that any Republican with legitimacy issues should ever use.
The real reason why Trump is outraged has nothing to do with John Lewis himself. Trump and his administration know that they lost the popular vote by a historic margin. They know that the Russian election interference is hanging over their heads like an ax that could fall at any second. There are serious questions about Trump’s legitimacy. Attacking a living hero is no way to address them.
Trump’s petty attacks on Americans who deserve respect is exactly why he is the most reviled president-elect in history. With each tweet, Trump digs the hole deeper with the majority of Americans. He is making it worse instead of better.
Instead of mending fences, the president-elect is building a wall around himself to keep reality out.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association