President Trump on Sunday doubled down on his support for a US Senate candidate in Mississippi who was criticized for saying she would happily attend a “public hanging” if invited by one of her politico backers.
“I will be in Gulfport and Tupelo, Mississippi, on Monday night doing two Rallies for Senator Hyde-Smith, who has a very important Election on Tuesday. She is an outstanding person who is strong on the Border, Crime, Military, our great Vets, Healthcare & the 2nd A. Needed in D.C.,” the president posted on Twitter about the Republican candidate in Tuesday’s runoff election.
Trump voiced his support for Hyde-Smith last week as he headed from Washington, DC, to his resort in Florida where he spent the Thanksgiving weekend.
“Cindy Hyde-Smith is a spectacular woman. She’s a great senator,” he told reporters on the South Lawn. “She came in and she’s done a fantastic job in a short period of time.”
Trump went on to say that Hyde-Smith made the hanging comment in “jest.”
Hyde-Smith, who’s running against Democrat Mike Espy, caused a firestorm of controversy in Mississippi earlier this month when she embraced the support of a political backer by saying, “If he invited me to a public hanging, I’d be in the front row.”
In a debate last week with Espy, an African-American who was former President Clinton’s agriculture secretary, Hyde-Smith apologized for the remark.
“For anyone that was offended by my comments, I certainly apologize. There was no ill will, no intent whatsoever in my statements,” she said, adding that her political opponents “twisted” the remark and used it against her.
Espy fired back.
“No one twisted your comments, because the comments came out of your mouth … I don’t know what’s in your heart, but we know what came out of your mouth,” he said.
Along with the endorsement of Hyde-Smith, Trump used Twitter to congratulate himself for the country’s low oil prices, to castigate Democrats for the migrants at the Mexican border and to lash out at the European Union for treating the US unfairly on trade.
“So great that oil prices are falling (thank you President T). Add that, which is like a big Tax Cut, to our other good Economic news. Inflation down (are you listening Fed)!,” Trump wrote.
But last week in a tweet, the president thanked Saudi Arabia for the low prices, a posting he made after giving Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a pass on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“Oil prices getting lower. Great! Like a big Tax Cut for America and the World. Enjoy! $54, was just $82. Thank you to Saudi Arabia, but let’s go lower!,” he wrote last Wednesday.
In another tweet, Trump once again urged Mexico to halt the groups of Central American migrants who arrived at the US border and are seeking asylum.
“Would be very SMART if Mexico would stop the Caravans long before they get to our Southern Border, or if originating countries would not let them form (it is a way they get certain people out of their country and dump in U.S. No longer). Dems created this problem. No crossings!,” he said.
Trump also used the protests in France against President Emmanuel Macron as a means to criticize the trade policies of the European Union.
“The large and violent French protests don’t take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection. Both of these topics must be remedied soon,” Trump said.
Demonstrations broke out across France over the weekend over increasing fuel prices.
Macron has dismissed them as actions from extremist groups.
