Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) on Monday said that President Trump’s compassion has been “nowhere to be found” in the past several weeks as the nation deals with the coronavirus pandemic and protests following the police killing of an unarmed black man in Minneapolis.
The governor said during a Monday press conference that Trump’s suggestion on a phone call earlier in the day that the nation’s governors should “dominate” and “take back your streets” were “incendiary,” but he added he was not surprised by the president’s rhetoric.
“At so many times during these past several weeks, when the country needed compassion and leadership the most, it was simply nowhere to be found,” Baker said. “Instead, we got bitterness, combativeness and self-interest.”
“That’s not what we need in Boston,” he added. “It’s not what we need right now in Massachusetts, and it’s definitely not what we need across this great country of ours either.”
Baker spoke about Trump’s call with governors on which the president said protests following the death of George Floyd should be cracked down on. The president condemned the governors for their handling of the demonstrations, calling them “weak” in their responses as the protests in some cities have turned violent.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) criticized Trump for his remarks on the call, saying they “should be gravely concerning to all Americans because they send a clear signal that this administration is determined to sow the seeds of hatred and division.”
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) called Trump “scum” for “fueling” racism and hatred in the U.S. over Floyd’s death.
Floyd, an unarmed black man, died after being detained by police last week in Minneapolis. Former officer Derek Chauvin was shown in a video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd said he couldn’t breathe and became unresponsive.
Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter and fired from the department.