Republican senator whose daughter has Down syndrome issues scathing response to Trump using 'the R-word'
A Republican senator whose daughter has Down syndrome has issued a response after Donald Trump used a slur often made against people with disabilities.
The president was widely criticised over the Thanksgiving weekend after he accused Minnesota governor Tim Walz, who was Kamala Harris' running mate in the 2024 election, of allowing refugees from Somalia to 'take over'.
Trump wrote: “Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for ‘prey’ as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses hoping against hope that they will be left alone."
The POTUS described Walz as 'seriously r****ded', comments that have been met with widespread criticism from Democrats, as well as Republicans.
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Trump and many of his allies in Congress have been attempting to implement congressional lines of states with Republican governors in the hope of being more successful in next year's midterm elections.
The White House is attempting to get as many Republicans on side in the hope of winning more seats in 2026, but one person who is not backing the plans is Republican state legislator Michael Bohacek.
He cited Trump's offensive comments aimed at Walz as the reason for voting against redistricting.
Bohacek said in a statement: "Many of you have asked my position on redistricting. I have been an unapologetic advocate for people with intellectual disabilities since the birth of my second daughter.
"Those of you that don’t know me or my family might not know that my daughter has Down Syndrome. This is not the first time our president has used these insulting and derogatory references and his choices of words have consequences.
"I will be voting NO on redistricting, perhaps he can use the next 10 months to convince voters that his policies and behavior deserve a congressional majority."
The president was slammed online after making the post, with many people commenting after it was shared on social media platforms outside of Truth Social.
Taking no prisoners, one person wrote: "Imagine how miserable you must be to spend Thanksgiving writing something like that.
"He’s a narcissistically-wounded child lashing out until his rage sticks. The 'leading cause of social dysfunction…' is not refugees. It’s broligarch-billionaires w/ no more empathy than Trump."
Walz has since responded to Trump's remarks, stating on Meet the Press on Sunday that they are an example of the president's 'cruelness'.
"But I think we all know, both as an educator for a couple of decades and as a parent, using that term is just so damaging," the governor said to Kristen Welker.
UNILAD has contacted the White House for comment.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News
Callum Jones