Congressman Uses the House Floor to Make the Ridiculous Claim "Every Racist in America Voted for Trump"

New York Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries declared Monday that "every racist in America voted for Donald Trump."



"We do know that every racist in America voted for Donald Trump," said Jeffries, whose New York 8th District includes Brooklyn and Queens. "That's a problem."




Speaking on the House floor, Jeffries said blacks in America experienced "incredible" progress until the election of President Trump.



"Eight years of tremendous progress in moving this country forward, followed by the election of Donald Trump," Jeffries said. "A man who spent five years perpetuating the racist lie that Barack Obama was not born in the United States of America."



Jeffries said Trump was white supremacists' candidate of choice, before pulling it back slightly to allow that not "every" American who voted for Trump is a racist.



"Many of us are wondering why so many people who worship at the altar of white supremacy drawn to Donald Trump's campaign?" Jeffries said. "What was it about this individual that so many folks dripping in hatred flocked to his candidacy. That's not to say every American who voted for Donald Trump is a racist."



Jeffries also called on Trump to task Attorney General Jeff Sessions with addressing hate crimes allegedly committed in Trump's name.



"But this president has a responsibility to address the rise in hate crimes that have taken place on his watch, whether or not his election is directly connected to it," Jeffries said. "Many of us have our own suspicions. But he's the commander in chief. He's got to tell his attorney general ... that his job as chief law enforcement officer in the land is to enforce the laws, whether you like them or not."