Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Michael Cohen agree that Trump is a racist, no matter what Rep. Mark Meadows says


Many may have been expecting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to present an explosive comment during Michael Cohen's testimony on Wednesday, but the true mic-drop moment came from Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Ill.) when pressing Cohen about his thoughts on President Trump's racist behavior.
"Would you agree that someone could deny rental units to African-Americans, lead the birther movement, refer to the diaspora as 'sh*t-hole countries,' refer to white supremacists as 'fine people,' have a black friend, and still be racist?," asked Pressley. Michael Cohen replied, "Yes."
Earlier in the day, several Republican representatives stated that they had never heard Trump make racist comments in their presence. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) even pointed to Lynne Patton, who has worked for the Trump Organization and is now an official for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, as proof that Trump could not be racist.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Meadows went on to clash with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) shortly after Pressley's comments, when she stated that "just because someone has a person of color, a black person working for them, does not mean they aren't racist ... that someone would actually use a prop, a black woman in this chamber, in this committee, is alone racist in itself." Meadows called her condemnation racist. Amari Pollard
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Amari Pollard is the social media editor at The Week and has written for Reader's Digest, Parents, and Inside Lacrosse. She studied journalism at Le Moyne College and can usually be found exploring Brooklyn, thrift shopping, or spending way too much money on brunch.
-
The financial changes to expect in 'Awful April'
The Explainer As the new financial year begins, it brings changes for bills, wages and tax
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Sudoku hard: April 2, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Crossword: April 2, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
WHCA rejects White House press seating grab
Speed Read The White House Correspondents' Association objected to the Trump administration's bid to control where journalists sit during press briefings
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sends more migrants to El Salvador jail
Speed Read Another 17 Venezuelan alleged gang members have been deported to a notorious prison
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump 'not joking' about unconstitutional 3rd term
Speed Read The president seems to be serious about seeking a third term in 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published