Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler Accuses Donald Trump Of Creating The Hate
Mayor Ted Wheeler was speaking at a news conference when he asked Donald Trump if he wonders why this is the first time in decades that the United States is witnessing this level of violence. "It's you who have created the hate and the division," he responded.
Wheeler went on to say that Trump has still not come up with a way to say the names of the Black people who were killed by police officers even as those associated with law enforcement have. He accused the president of touting White supremacists are good people, adding that his campaign of fear and everything else he has done to create hate, bitterness in the country is anti-democratic.
These remarks come just one day after a person was shot and killed in downtown Portland following an evening of fierce clashes between people supporting Trump and those opposing police brutality. Protestors have gathered against racial injustice and police brutality or over 90 consecutive nights.
These protests were triggered by the killing of George Floyd and got out of hand after police shot Jacob Blake in Wisconsin last weekend. Wheeler said the people of America had to live with Trump and his racist attacks on Black people for four years, and they are aware of his attitudes toward women.
He recalled about the clips that showed Trump mocking a disabled man, before pointing out at his anti-democratic attacks on journalists. He used his address to accuse the president of slamming private citizens to the point of receiving death threats and recalled his attacks on immigrants.
Wheeler also spoke about Trump calling Mexicans "rapists," and denying that John McCain was a hero because he was a prisoner of war. He then pointed out at Trump's attempts to attack Democratic mayors and the institutions of Democracy that have served America since its founding.
As expected, Trump retaliated with a series of tweets on Sunday afternoon, deeming Wheeler "wacky." He said Portland has a slim chance of recovering as it has a "fool for a Mayor."
Trump called him out for blaming him and the Federal Government for going in, noting that he hasn't seen anything yet. He also said they were there with a small group to defend the U.S. Courthouse because Wheeler couldn't do it.
Trump said that the people in Portland want law and order, just like all other cities and parts of the country. The tweets rebuked Wheeler's plea to Trump to let him handle the protest as mayor.