Rep. Tim Ryan
Timothy (Tim) RyanNow's the time to make 'Social Emotional Learning' a national priority Mourners gather outside Supreme Court after passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lincoln Project hits Trump for criticizing Goodyear, 'an American company' MORE (D-Ohio) is accusing President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump admin to announce coronavirus vaccine will be covered under Medicare, Medicaid: report Election officials say they're getting suspicious emails that may be part of malicious attack on voting: report McConnell tees up Trump judicial pick following Supreme Court vote MORE of “race-baiting” after his latest comments criticizing NBA star LeBron James and CNN host Don Lemon.
“The president is always interested in race-baiting,” Ryan said late Saturday on MSNBC. “He’s always interested in finding a black person or a brown person to call ‘dumb’ or to stereotype in some way.”
Ryan, who represents the Ohio congressional district that includes Akron, praised James for the “good work” he has done for the community, including millions of dollars in donations for youth clubs and schools, and donations of food and clothing for underprivileged youth.
“He’s been one of the premier citizens for the city of Akron, not just the star basketball player and a great role model,” Ryan said. “He’s given back.”
“That’s the kind of leadership we need in this country, not the kind we’re getting in the White House,” he added.
Trump caused a stir earlier when he attacked James and Lemon in a late-night tweet after the president purportedly viewed Lemon’s interview with James about the school the NBA star opened in Akron for at-risk youth.
Trump called Lemon the “dumbest man on television,” adding that he “made LeBron look smart, which isn’t easy to do.” The tweet was seen by many as another example of the president targeting prominent black individuals with racially charged comments.
He has feuded with a number of black athletes, criticizing NFL players kneeling to protest racial injustice and calling the UCLA basketball players held in China “ungrateful” after they were returned to the U.S.
The president has also targeted black lawmakers like Rep. Maxine Waters
Maxine Moore WatersCompanies start responding to pressure to bolster minority representation Democratic senators unveil bill to ban discrimination in financial services industry Safeguarding US elections by sanctioning Russian sovereign debt MORE (D-Calif.), whom he has repeatedly called “low IQ.”
And he has faced accusations of racism for a number of his policies and comments, including saying there were “very fine people” on both sides of the deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., referring to Haiti, El Salvador and some African nations as “shithole” countries and his immigration policies.
