GOP Congressman Byron Donalds claims Democrats are weaponizing race

A Southwest Florida Republican congressman is making controversial claims about Democrats, including that they are pulling the race card to push for impeachment.

Congressman Byron Donalds, who is Black, said Democrats are weaponizing race, which will only divide the nation further.

“I know that there’s been times that they’ve called the president, a white supremacist. But I mean, first of all, you have to actually go talk to the people who are people of color that have worked in this administration over the last four years,” Donalds said.

Ten Republicans joined Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to vote to impeach President Trump.

During speeches prior to the vote, some representatives used terms like “racist-in-chief” and “white supremacist.”

But to Donalds, race is not to blame for the Capitol insurrection, he said.

“Using race to make their arguments try to be better for, for impeaching the president, I just think that’s wrong,” Donalds said.

Critics of Donalds criticize him for how he votes. Recently, CNN commentator Keith Boykin criticized Donalds for being a Black man who voted against impeachment.

“@ByronDonalds should resign in disgrace,” Boykin posted on Twitter. 

But, to Donalds, that kind of criticism is wrong.

“You can’t just say that because you’re Black, you have to think a certain way, just like I can’t say because you’re white, you’re supposed to think a certain way,” Donalds said. “I think that’s wrong.”

Donalds also thinks its wrong to say the president incited the riot on Capitol Hill.

“Many Americans feel that the President went way too far, calling the election stalling and calling the election rigged,” Donalds said, adding, “he’s allowed to do that under political speech under the First Amendment here in the United States. Well, people are outraged about it. And I’m outraged about is the aftermath.