When Ben Carson was tapped as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the selection quickly came under fire. In one of his first speeches in his new role, Carson made comments that received instant backlash.
Carson controversy
Ben Carson has been an outspoken conservative ever since he made critical comments about former President Barack Obama during the National Prayer Breakfast in 2013. Since then, Carson has been a favorite of conservatives, but also a target for many on the left. After failing to gain traction in his run for president, Carson dropped out before endorsing Donald Trump.
In his new role as Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Carson addressed department employees on Monday morning. During his speech, the retired neurosurgeon compared slaves to immigrants, but said they were just harder working. As seen on Twitter March 6, top Hollywood stars reacted quickly.
HUD Sec. Dr. Ben Carson referred to people who crossed the Atlantic in the bottom of a slave ship as "immigrants" https://t.co/bzQZKVB6ks pic.twitter.com/sNGzcwCW4g
— CNN (@CNN) March 6, 2017
Describing the United States as "A land of dreams and opportunity," Ben Carson then raised eyebrows with his next set of remarks. "There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships," Carson said, while adding that the slaves "worked even longer" and "even harder for less."
OK!! Ben Carson....I can't! Immigrants ? In the bottom of SLAVE SHIPS??!! MUTHAFUKKA PLEASE!!!#dickheadedtom
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) March 6, 2017
"OK!!
Ben Carson....I can't! Immigrants ? In the bottom of SLAVE SHIPS??!! MUTHAFUKKA PLEASE!!!," actor Samuel L. Jackson wrote on Twitter Monday night, before using the hashtag "#dickheadedtom." Actress and talk how host Whoopi Goldberg also went off on Carson on her own Twitter account. "Ben Carson..please read or watch Roots, most immigrants come here VOLUNTARILY,cant't really say the same about the slaves..they were stolen," Goldberg tweeted out.
Ben Carson..please read or watch Roots, most immigrants come here VOLUNTARILY,cant't really say the same about the slaves..they were stolen
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) March 6, 2017
Moving forward
As of press time, neither Donald Trump nor Ben Carson have issued a comment or clarification about the comments made, but that didn't stop several Hollywood stars, reporters, and other Twitter users from voicing their opinion on the issue.
Carson's nomination received backlash from the start, which has become a common theme when it comes to most of Trump's cabinet selections. As controversy continues to surround the Trump administration, it's unlikely to change anytime soon.
