The Atlantic

Trump Knew Exactly What He Was Doing

The crowd in Greenville understood the president and his platform far better than he—or Republican senators—proved willing to admit.
Source: Andrew Harnik / AP

Republican politicians saw what happened at President Donald Trump’s rally last night in Greenville, North Carolina, where a crowd chanted “Send her back!” about Representative Ilhan Omar, the Minnesota Democrat and U.S. citizen born in Somalia.

They didn’t like it. And they know who to blame: anyone but Donald Trump.

“The chants were offensive and very unfortunate,” Senator Mitt Romney said. “It did not speak well of that crowd.”

“People chant what they want,” said Senator John Barrasso. “I’d rather attack ideas than people.”

is “not really convinced that the president himself knew what the shouting was.”

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