The Trump administration has clearly established themselves as an opponent of basic protections for millions of Americans. They’ve tried, for instance, to completely throw out the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), they’ve wound themselves up against marginalized groups from Muslims to immigrants, and when groups have called out for support — like amidst the Coronavirus pandemic — the Trump administration has largely ignored them. Thus, when White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany issued a statement following John Lewis’s passing this week and acted like she was in any position to speak with authority about what he spent his life fighting for, it didn’t exactly go over well.
Who is McEnany trying to fool, exactly? Her own boss has previously described Lewis as “all talk… no action,” which is just outrageously ridiculous and entirely disconnected from reality. Meanwhile, McEnany tweeted:
‘Rep. John Lewis was an icon of the civil rights movement, and he leaves an enduring legacy that will never be forgotten. We hold his family in our prayers, as we remember Rep. John Lewis’ incredible contributions to our country.’
Rep. John Lewis was an icon of the civil rights movement, and he leaves an enduring legacy that will never be forgotten. We hold his family in our prayers, as we remember Rep. John Lewis’ incredible contributions to our country.
— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) July 18, 2020
The problem, however, is that those contributions are not remotely safe as long as Trump remains in the White House. Lewis recognized the dangers of the Trump presidency — among other shows of protest, he boycotted Trump’s inauguration. In January 2017 — the month that he was inaugurated — Trump tweeted petulantly about Lewis, writing:
‘Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!’
Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017
mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017
Again — that is absolutely ridiculous. Lewis was one of the marchers calling for voting rights for fellow black Americans when he was violently attacked in the 1965 incident of racist police violence known as “Bloody Sunday.” He was one of the “Freedom Riders” who rode across the South on buses in an attempt to desegregate public transportation, and during that ride, he was brutally attacked by racists. Throughout it all, he was repeatedly arrested. How much more “action or results” can you get than John Lewis’s history? His work is in stark contrast to the reality-disconnected racism of the Trump administration.
Check out Twitter’s response to McEnany below:
