Donald Trump is celebrating Martin Luther King day at his golf course

What better way to celebrate a civil rights icon than heading to one's private club?

Published January 15, 2018 10:02AM (EST)

 (AP/Evan Vucci)
(AP/Evan Vucci)

Last week ended with President Donald Trump's thoughts on race being opened to the world.

And a day after he said that Haitians, El Salvadorians and those from African nations came from "s**tholes" — while at the same time proclaiming his preference for Norwegians — Trump made a proclamation in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

During the ceremony, Trump read from pre-written remarks, saying that Americans should honor King "with acts of civic work and community service in honor of Dr. King's extraordinary life and his great legacy."

After signing the proclamation, Trump jetted to his private golf club in Florida, which he owns and operates as a for-profit entity. During the weekend, he met with a Republican congressman to discuss a DACA deal.

But throughout the weekend, and as much as the Trump tried to hide or deflect from the relentless backlash, the conversation about Trump's race continued, with New York Times columnist Charles Blow writing Sunday that Trump "is a racist. Period."

Understanding this, it is not a stretch to understand that Donald Trump’s words and deeds over the course of his life have demonstrated a pattern of expressing racial prejudices that demean people who are black and brown and that play to the racial hostilities of other white people.

It is not a stretch to say that Trump is racist. It’s not a stretch to say that he is a white supremacist. It’s not a stretch to say that Trump is a bigot.

I know of no point during his entire life where he has apologized for, repented of, or sought absolution for any of his racist actions or comments.

Instead, he either denies, deflects or amps up the attack.

Trump is a racist. We can put that baby to bed.

On Monday, Trump was headed to his golf course, per pool reports.

Intentional or not, Trump's actions are likely not endearing himself to the King family.

Martin Luther King III — the son of the slain icon — told the Daily News that Trump's comments caused Trump to "lose any level of credibility."

King III's comments to the News came on Friday, well before Trump decided to spend Monday as a "get out of work free" day.

“When you make a statement like you made yesterday, the question is: ‘Do you even understand why we have a Martin Luther King holiday?’” he said.

Meanwhile, Isaac Newton Farris Jr., King's nephew, and someone who was at the White House on Friday, didn't reassure America when he said that Trump wasn't racist, but rather "racially ignorant and racially uninformed."

Rest assured, the debate on Trump's racial awareness will likely continue for the near future.


By Jeremy Binckes

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Donald Trump Donald Trump Golf Course Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Golf