One of the biggest political stories over the weekend was the war of words between Donald Trump and civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis. After Lewis announced he would not attend Trump's inauguration, the president-elect went on multiple Twitter attacks.
Trump on Lewis
During a pre-tapped interview for NBC's "Meet the Press" last Friday, John Lewis told host Chuck Todd that he didn't believe Donald Trump was a "legitimate president" because of reported Russian interference in the election. Due to this, the congressman said he would not be on hand in Washington, D.C.
on Inauguration Day, and that it would be the first ceremony he would miss during his entire time in Congress. Trump went on to lash out at Lewis various times over the weekend, suggesting that the congressman handle is "burning" district back in Georgia. On Tuesday morning, Trump returned to Twitter to continue his attack, as seen on January 17.
John Lewis said about my inauguration, "It will be the first one that I've missed." WRONG (or lie)! He boycotted Bush 43 also because he...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2017
"thought it would be hypocritical to attend Bush's swearing-in....he doesn't believe Bush is the true elected president." Sound familiar! WP
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2017
"John Lewis said about my inauguration, 'It will be the first one that I've missed.' WRONG (or lie)!" Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday morning.
"He boycotted Bush 43 also because he 'thought it would be hypocritical to attend Bush's swearing-in...he doesn't believe Bush is the true elected president," Trump added in a follow-up tweet, before stating, "Sound familiar! WP"
Lewis Skipped Bush Inaugural Too, Said He Was Not President: https://t.co/A2TyIiATnN
— Fox Nation (@foxnation) January 17, 2017
According to The Washington Examiner, Trump's claim of John Lewis not attending the inauguration of George W.
Bush appears to be correct. The paper actually quoted an article from The Washington Post that appears to back-up Trump's tweet, though Lewis has not yet offered an official response. The only public response to Trump given by Lewis was in a fundraising email, where he referenced the previous Twitter attacks, while citing his time spent marching with Martin Luther King Jr.
during the Civil Rights era.
Moving forward
In just three days, the former host of "The Apprentice" will officially become the 45th President of the United States. While Donald Trump and his supporters will be celebrating in Washington, D.C. and around the country, millions of critics will be voicing their opposition, including more than 100,000 protesters who are expected to be on hand in the nation's capital.
