NEWS
Huckabee Sanders Defends Trump’s Pocahontas ‘Racial Slur’ At Native American Ceremony
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday defended President Donald Trump after he used a racial slur to mock Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) at a White House event honoring Native American code talkers.
Trump comments on Elizabeth Warren's heritage at event honoring Native American code talkers:
"You were here long before any of us were here. Although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas." https://t.co/lKSNecEXfu
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 27, 2017
Sanders said during a press briefing that “most people” were more offended that the Senator allegedly “lied” about her Native American heritage.
She added that it was “ridiculous” to characterize “Pocahontas” as a racial slur.
“Why is it appropriate for the president to use the racial slur in any context?” MSNBC’s Kristen Welker asked.
“I don’t think it is appropriate for him to use a racial slur or anyone else,” Sanders replied.
Welker noted that many people viewed Trump’s remark as a slur.
“Why is it appropriate?” she pressed.
“Like I said, I don’t think it is,” Sanders said. “And I don’t think — that was certainly not the president’s intent.”
“Does he see political value in calling people out racially? Why use that term?” Welker fire back. “Why use that term?”
Watch Sanders’ tense exchange with reporters, below:
During an interview on MSNBC moments after Trump referred to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as “Pocahontas”, Warren fired back at Trump, saying: “This was supposed to be an event to honor heroes, people who put it all on the line for our country.”
Warren noted that the code talkers “saved the lives of countless Americans and our allies.”
“It is deeply unfortunate that the president of the United States can’t even make it through a ceremony honoring these heroes without throwing out a racial slur.”
WATCH: Elizabeth Warren responds to Trump's "Pocahontas" remark on @MSNBC:
"It is deeply unfortunate that the President of the United States cannot even make it through a ceremony honoring these heroes without having to throw out a racial slur." pic.twitter.com/au1QntxDzR
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 27, 2017
