US President Donald Trump, pictured on December 20, 2019, praised Turkey's efforts in Syria, tweeting that Ankara "is working hard to stop this carnage"
US President Donald Trump, pictured on December 20, 2019, praised Turkey's efforts in Syria, tweeting that Ankara "is working hard to stop this carnage" AFP / Nicholas Kamm

KEY POINTS

  • Trump blasts Pelosi for her allegedly "filthy dirty district"
  • President changes mind about long trial in Senate
  • Twitter reacts to Trump's series of tweets

President Donald Trump's series of morning tweets Thursday targeting House majority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and San Francisco ignited a huge backlash against him on social media that called his sanity into question.

Trump slammed Pelosi in two early morning tweets while claiming her congressional district in California is a "filthy dirty district" that's "rapidly become one of the worst anywhere in the U.S. when it come [sic] to the homeless & crime."

"Nancy Pelosi’s District in California has rapidly become one of the worst anywhere in the U.S. when it come [sic] to the homeless & crime. It has gotten so bad, so fast - she has lost total control and, along with her equally incompetent governor, Gavin Newsom, it is a very sad sight!" Trump tweeted Thursday.

A follow-up tweet some 20 minutes later saw him quote Brad Blakeman, a Fox opinion writer and former staffer to President George W. Bush who wants Senate Republicans to dismiss the charges against Trump and do away with a trial.

Quoting Blakeman, Trump tweeted: "Nancy Pelosi has no leverage over the Senate. Mitch McConnell did not nose his way into the impeachment process in the House, and she has no standing in the Senate.”

Trump was impeached by the House on December 18 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. He will be tried in the Republican-controlled Senate in January but no one knows when since Pelosi has withheld transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Senate. The Senate trial of Trump can't begin without the chamber's official receipt of the articles of impeachment.

Analysts noted Trump's quoting Blakeman seems to indicate the President has likely changed his mind on holding a grandiose trial in the Senate with witnesses in favor of Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell's option of going through the motions before quashing the impeachment. Republicans have a 53 to 47 advantage over the Democrats in the Senate. Impeaching Trump will mean a two-thirds vote from senators in favor of impeachment. It will mean 20 Republican senators voting to impeach Trump, which is almost impossible. All Republican senators are expected to vote to acquit Trump.

Twitter shouted down Trump's claims. "Look at you, #Trump. You’re enraged & raging. Unhinged. Having a colossal emotional meltdown. An epic tantrum for all to see. You’re obsessed. #Pelosi OWNS you. You can’t stop thinking about her bc she’s a powerful WOMAN you can’t control and who’s beating your corrupt a--. Sad!" said one post.

Another user tweeted: "In fact, Trump is regressing to the same 13-year-old boy his father sent to a military style reform boarding school for being a lying spoiled little brat. He has been emotionally stunted since that traumatic time for him, and when backed into a hard position he goes back there."

On the other side, a supporter said, "Nancy Pelosi should be investigated for abuse of power!" while someone tweeted, "Pelosi: you did your crappy job in the House, mind your business in the Senate."

Trump's slamming of Pelosi mirrors his attacks against the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and the majority African-American districts he represented. Back in July, Trump ridiculed Cummings’ majority-black district in Maryland as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess,” worsening racial tensions and igniting denunciations of racism against Trump.

Cummings once headed the powerful House Oversight Committee as chairman. Trump claimed Cummings' Baltimore-area district is “considered the worst run and most dangerous anywhere in the United States.” Trump's baseless and racist attacks on Cummings came two weeks after he again drew charges of racism with tweets directed at four congresswomen of color led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who later labeled themselves "The Squad."

US House speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet sent the impeachment articles of President Donald Trump to the Senate
US House speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet sent the impeachment articles of President Donald Trump to the Senate AFP / SAUL LOEB