On Sunday, June 28, President Donald Trump retweeted a video of a man in Florida yelling "White Power!"
President Trump retweeted a video of a white man — driving a golf cart with "Trump 2020" and "America First" signs… https://t.co/FxgAgqzOBI— NPR (@NPR)1593355501.0
Trump deleted the tweet, which thanked Florida seniors for their support, shortly after publishing it, but not before many people online had captured the video.
Seniors from The Villages in Florida protesting against each other: https://t.co/Q3GRJCTjEW— Fifty Shades of Whey (@Fifty Shades of Whey)1593287171.0
The video appeared to be taken at a Florida retirement community, The Villages, where protesters from both sides of the political divide were clashing with each other.
The video appears to have been taken at The Villages, a Florida retirement community. https://t.co/3OrwuicngU— We Are Iowa Local 5 (@We Are Iowa Local 5)1593357185.0
The Trump administration quickly tried to claim the President "did not hear" the man shouting "White power" before retweeting it.
“President Trump is a big fan of The Villages. He did not hear the one statement made on the video. What he did see… https://t.co/Q5vscWMzhF— Steve Holland (@Steve Holland)1593357653.0
HHS Secretary Alex Azar responds to Trump sharing 'White power' tweet: "Obviously the president and I and his whole… https://t.co/a9bZDjG4xA— Yahoo News (@Yahoo News)1593356592.0
Many Republicans were quick to denounce the President's tweet, which was far from his first time offering tacit support for white supremacy.
Today the President shared a video of people shouting “white power” and said they were “great.” Just like he did af… https://t.co/wtS2vFCMLI— Joe Biden (@Joe Biden)1593365880.0
Many on Twitter pointed out that the President shouldn't be so excited about protesters facing off in the heart of The Villages.
Just gonna throw this out there. If people are protesting against each other in *The Villages* Trump has a problem in Florida.— Amanda Carpenter (@Amanda Carpenter)1593346835.0
I had a similar reaction - Trump won Sumter County (the Villages is mostly in that county) by 39 points https://t.co/7FXgez9riT— Kyle Kondik (@Kyle Kondik)1593347165.0
Later, Trump's team claimed outright that the President was trying to defend people who yell "white power."
The WH press secretary is saying Pres Trump tweeted out a video of Trump supporters chanting “white power” because… https://t.co/Kc6opU6vko— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche Alcindor)1593439851.0
I think she’s right. He is standing with folks who yell “white power”. https://t.co/vaGqGG7lJJ— Soledad O'Brien (@Soledad O'Brien)1593442576.0
They are demonized for pushing “white power” https://t.co/dzE8MzC9AY— Stephanie Ruhle (@Stephanie Ruhle)1593442905.0
Online, people were amazed that the actions of President Trump could continue to shock them.
I’m ending the day just as appalled as I began it. How on earth can so many people support a president who promotes… https://t.co/DwxRAZusef— Evan McMullin (@Evan McMullin)1593401840.0
How in the world in 2020, much less at this moment in history, do you retweet someone yelling “White Power!” When y… https://t.co/NLHxQGnOvK— Doug Jones (@Doug Jones)1593400051.0
It's not hard to understand whose side the President is on.
So Pence refuse to say "Black Lives Matter," while Trump retweet racists shouting "White Power." I think I'm start… https://t.co/WDqsAM88kG— Alex Cole (@Alex Cole)1593400433.0
Trump supporters defending Trump’s tweet of a video in which a man yells “white power” (arguing it’s “ok to be whit… https://t.co/N0W9vF1lfp— jen pal (@jen pal)1593437276.0
Just when it seems the President can't get any lower in the eyes of many Americans, he does something like this and lowers the office of the Presidency still further.