President-elect Donald Trump was swiftly condemned for his series of early-morning tweets Saturday maligning the Atlanta district that Rep. John Lewis represents as a "crime infested" area that is "falling apart."
The Republican was furious at Lewis after the civil rights icon told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he will skip Trump's inauguration next week because he doesn't see him as a "legitimate president."
“Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results,” Trump said in a pair of Twitter messages ahead of the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations. “All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!”
The remarks about the district, which swings through heart of metro Atlanta and includes some of the city's crown jewels, were roundly criticized by leaders from both sides of the aisle.
Jason Carter, the 2014 Democratic candidate for governor who represented part of the 5th District in the state Senate, said Trump "clearly doesn't know anything about the 5th District or Atlanta."
"It exemplifies what’s great about this country," Carter said in an interview. "The center of business, the center of innovation and the cradle of the civil rights movement and it’s incredibly successful right now. And it’s about the host a (NFL) playoff victory!"
On Twitter, the reaction came swiftly:
From Bill Kristol, a prominent conservative analyst and editor-at-large of the Weekly Standard:
From U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.:
While most Georgia Republicans were mum - Gov. Nathan Deal's office was among those declining immediate comment - state Democrats laced into Trump.
The Democratic Party of Georgia tweeted "delete your account" to Trump - in Russian.
And Carter had more to say on Twitter: :
State Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, is one of a few Georgia Republicans who came to Trump's defense:
More on Lewis, Trump and Atlanta:
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