NBC News icon Tom Brokaw blasted members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Thursday, saying they should have tried to reach out and work with President Trump after his remarks about “shithole countries.”
Brokaw singled out a nameless member of the group for likening Trump to the Ku Klux Klan.
“If the Black Caucus for example, which I thought made a terrible error, one of the members said right after that meeting ‘Donald Trump could lead the Ku Klux Klan,” Brokaw said.
“[The] Ku Klux Klan murdered people. They were in white sheets, terrible reputation. So instead of doing that, put together a small group in the black caucus or any of the other caucuses, and say to the White House, ‘we’d like to come down and have a conversation with the president in a private meeting.’ That’s what the country wants to hear. They want to hear and see them able to talk to each other,” he added.
The target of Brokaw’s comments appeared to be New York City’s Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
“Grand Wizard of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. has once again ripped the sheets off and exposed himself to the American people,” Jeffries tweeted after Trump’s disparaging remarks toward Haiti and several nations in Africa.
“What a DISGRACE.”
Grand Wizard of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. has once again ripped the sheets off and exposed himself to the American People. What a DISGRACE https://t.co/FNpulOAL6u
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) January 12, 2018
Brokaw’s comments set off a minor stir on Twitter as users attacked the veteran newsman to the point where he was briefly trending on the platform Thursday morning.
https://twitter.com/SkylarJordan/status/953969501246296070
#MorningJoe & Tom Brokaw are talking about Tribalism. This isn't my sports team playing. I'm not supporting my bar wing-man. This is my life, my kids lives & the lives of fellow human beings! I don't see it as a political side. It's basic RIGHT or WRONG Humanity or lack of!
— Tina Leigh (@Tinaleigh777) January 18, 2018
Funny too is how Obama was supposed to “reach out” more to Congress. Obama was too “aloof.” But with Trump according to Tom Brokaw everyone has to reach out to him and appease him. https://t.co/9VyxZqflB8
— John Kane (@Tortured_Verse) January 18, 2018
I disagree w/ Tom Brokaw! We can no longer talk w/ people who are a threat to our safety and survival. Donald Trump is that. He insulted the Black Caucus, they do not need to be first to reach out to him. Their voters don't want to hear the message Brokaw suggested. #MorningJoe
— Aisha K. Staggers (@AishaStaggers) January 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/AGirlHasNoPrezz/status/953970777921064960
I'm tired of people like Tom Brokaw telling Blacks "Its time to have a Conversation" every time there is a racial incident, then use that Conversation to end the Conversation.
— Mauve A Lange (@MauveLange) January 18, 2018
No one on Twitter is agreeing with Tom Brokaw about the need to 'talk to Trump.' That's like the proverbial conversation with a coffee table!
— John Lundin ? (@johnlundin) January 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/unscriptedmike/status/953989436710244352
I have never spent a second wondering what Tom Brokaw thinks about anything.
— Harold Itzkowitz (@HaroldItz) January 18, 2018