Republicans in Congress have been routinely criticized by Americans across the country for an apparent unwillingness to hold President Donald Trump accountable for his actions.
Even Republicans like Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)—who spent the 2016 campaign speaking out against Trump's bigotry—has now become one of Trump's most vocal defenders.
On Monday, hundreds appeared in front of the White House to protest the murder of George Floyd by police. It was one of many uprisings across the country.
To counter the unrest, the President decided to take a picture with a bible in front of the historic Saint John's Episcopal Church. In order to do so, he had peaceful protestors tear gassed to clear a path.
His actions were met with outrage, except from Republican lawmakers, who were asked by CNN's Kasie Hunt about the forceful removal of protestors for a photo-op.
Their answers were...interesting.
Watch below.
Kasie Hunt asks Republican senators what they thought of the President having peaceful protestors gassed and dispersed for a photo op pic.twitter.com/MGy60CFvLV
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) June 2, 2020
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) ignored Collins's questions.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) said:
"I wasn't there, so I didn't see exactly what happened."
Others, like Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) gave similar responses.
People weren't happy with the Senators' evasiveness.
The @GOP has their festering, ingrained racism on full display now. They lost any moral high ground generations ago, if they ever had it.
— Padraig 🏡 (@patrickmkcirtap) June 2, 2020
Senate Republicans' dismissals continued throughout the day.
The reactions were much the same.
Some of these Senators are up for reelection this November.
@LeeMerrittesq/X
@bob_moss/X
@jelanijones/Bluesky
@Aurkayne/X
@sadcommunistdog; @froglok/Bluesky