Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Michael Cohen agree that Trump is a racist, no matter what Rep. Mark Meadows says
![Ayanna Pressley and Michael Cohen.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rh96TJEx4yg3i3ZmzqCVUX-415-80.png)
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.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
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
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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.
-
Magazine solutions - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
'In a normal country, their activities wouldn't even be crimes'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Netanyahu makes controversial address
Speed Reads Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress denounced Gaza war protestors
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion
Speed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents case
Speed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strike
Speed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
First Israeli report on Oct. 7 finds 'severe mistakes and errors' in IDF response
Speed Reads Israeli military admits failures in response to deadly Hamas attack that triggered Gaza war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden saw neurologist during physicals
Speed Read Following his bad debate performance, many are asking questions about the president's brain
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published