Trump Labeling Rivals ‘Vermin’: White House, GOP Offers Strong Rebuke

Donald Trump’s recent remark about his political opponents being ‘vermin’ has drawn fire from both parties. While not many people outside conservative circles have defended the President’s words, some in the GOP have suggested that his characterization of those who disagree with him is not the worst thing he could have said. The statement in question was made by Trump during a rally in North Carolina on October 12th. Trump was referring to his opponents, calling them ‘vermin’. This label has been applied to a wide range of issues in the past, usually to denote a person, an idea, or a group of people that needs to be eradicated. In response, the White House has sought to distance itself from the president’s statement. White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley stated that the President’s words are ‘not reflective of the views of this Administration or the American people’. Not everyone in Republican circles has condemned the president. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky defended Trump calling some of his opponents ‘vermin’, saying the label is ‘not really all that bad’. He argued that if it were President Barack Obama who had made the same comments, Republicans would be ‘sitting up there saying it was okay’. At the same time, some Republicans have spoken out against Trump’s characterization. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley spoke out strongly against the President’s remarks, saying ‘it does not reflect the value of the United States or the value of the people of our country’. The Trump administration has long been accused of demonizing their opponents, and this incident appears to have only added fuel to the fire. While some in the GOP have defended the President’s words, others have spoken up in condemnation. Trump’scomments have drawn strong rebuke from the White House and some in the Republican party, and it is unlikely that the situation will improve anytime soon.