President Trump’s description of Baltimore as “a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” over the weekend followed a pattern that has become familiar: In an attempt to undermine a political opponent, the president disparages an entire place — often in racially insensitive tones.
Trump has sharply criticized Chicago, Oakland, Ferguson, Mo., and San Francisco in the United States. But that same pattern has played out abroad as well, where entire nations or continents were insulted by the president.
The most prominent example of a nation that has found itself repeatedly targeted by Trump is Mexico. During his campaign, Trump falsely claimed that Mexico sends “criminals, drug dealers, rapists” to the United States.
View the complete July 29 by Rick Noack on The Washington Post website here.