Jay Inslee calls Trump a white nationalist during raucous debate

For his first big line of the night, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee came out swinging against President Trump.

After his fellow Democratic presidential candidates argued back and forth about deportations and decriminalizing border crossings, Inslee brought the focus back to the man currently making policy. "I think we're missing two central statements we need to make," he said. "No. 1, we can no longer allow a white nationalist to be in the White House. No. 2, we have to make America what it's always been: a place of refuge."

Inslee, who received loud applause and cheers for his Trump remark, said he's happy to have been the first governor to tell Syrian refugees they are welcome in Washington and oppose Trump's Muslim ban. "I'm proud to have sued him 21 times and beat him 21 times in a row," he added. "I'm ready for November 2020." Washington has sued the Trump administration for a variety of reasons since 2017, including over rules that cut off federal family planning funds to abortion providers.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

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.

Sign up