Donald Trump is facing a new wave of criticism and racism allegations after asking what the internet is calling a “classless” question.
The president is experiencing fierce backlash after abruptly asking an African reporter a question about Ebola during a tense exchange about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The comment quickly went viral in a video that can be seen here, with people online accusing the president of making a racist and deeply insensitive remark. Social media users were especially stunned by the question because the reporter had been talking about the violence she witnessed in Congo before he suddenly changed the subject. Read more about the situation and how the internet reacted below.
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Trump Abruptly Asks A Reporter About Ebola During White House Press Interview
On Monday, September 28th, the president sat down with a series of journalists in the White House when Angolan journalist Hariana Verás, a White House correspondent and the first African journalist accredited to the White House, began asking him some questions.
At one point, she questioned Trump about the ongoing conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Verás told the 80-year-old that despite a U.S.-brokered peace agreement, Rwanda was still violating the deal, and she explained that she had recently traveled to the DRC and personally witnessed people being killed.
Instead of continuing the conversation about the conflict, the Apprentice star suddenly asked her about Ebola. Verás responded that Ebola was under control, but said Congo still needed help fighting the disease and that the war was the country's biggest problem. You can see a viral clip of their interaction here.
"How is Ebola going?" he asked.
"Ebola is under control," Verás responded. "Still, the country needs some help to fight Ebola, but the biggest problem is the war."
Social Media Users Slam Trump As 'Racist' After Interview Goes Viral
The clip quickly made the rounds online, and many people were appalled by the president's decision to bring up Ebola while an African journalist was trying to talk about a deadly conflict in her home region.
On various social media platforms, some users argued that the question was incredibly insensitive and played into stereotypes about Africa, with some calling the moment racist and "utterly classless."
One X user called the moment "heinously racist" on Trump's part, with another commenting that it was "utterly classless" of him.
A user accused him of "trying desperately to be relevant while maintaining his racism," as another added that he was "such an embarrassment."
"What an idiot!" a user clapped back. "You would think he would know 'how Ebola is going!'"
"He is so racist and vile," wrote a user.
"What a horrible human being," added another.
