Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter slams Bannon for saying her father would be ‘proud’ of Trump

The youngest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. slammed former White House strategist Stephen Bannon on Wednesday for saying her father would be “proud” of President Trump.

Bernice King took to Twitter to say that Bannon “dangerously and erroneously co-opted” her father’s “name, work and words.” 

#SteveBannon has dangerously and erroneously co-opted my father’s name, work and words.

Bannon’s assertion that my father, #MLK, would be proud of Donald Trump wholly ignores Daddy’s commitment to people of all races, nationalities, etc. being treated with dignity and respect.

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

My father’s concerns were not sectional, but global. He was an activist for the civil rights of Black people in America, but he was also an activist for human rights. #MLK

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

King went on to say her father would not have referred to undocumented immigrants as “illegal aliens,” nor would he have pitted groups of people against each other.  

In addition, he would never pit one group against another in the struggle for justice, as Bannon attempts to use him to do in discussing those he termed as “illegal aliens” and Black people. #MLK

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018  

Bannon’s comments are like feeding someone empty calories, in that they don’t convey a comprehensive view of #MLK as a global humanitarian who cared about the well-being of all people.

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

My father would be extremely disturbed by the climate created by leaders, who have emboldened people to easily express and demonstrate cruelty, predominantly toward people of color and immigrants. #MLK

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

King wrapped up the series of tweets by saying her father would have advocated for a livable wage for all.  

Finally, #MLK would be proud of a livable wage for all and not merely a low unemployment rate. #PoorPeoplesCampaign

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

King’s remarks came in response to an interview with Bannon on the BBC. In his Wednesday appearance on “Newsnight,” Bannon said King’s father would have been “proud” of the Trump administration’s policy achievements. 

“If you look at the policies of Donald Trump, OK, anybody — Martin Luther King — would be proud of him, of what he’s done for the black and Hispanic community for jobs,” Bannon said. 

“You think Martin Luther King would be proud of Donald Trump as president?” BBC journalist Emily Maitlis asked. 

“You don’t think Martin Luther King would sit there and go, ‘Yes, you’re putting young black men and women to work. The lowest unemployment we’ve had in history and wages are starting to rise among the working class. And you’ve finally stopped the illegal alien labor force that’s coming in and competing with them every day and destroying the schools and destroying the health care.’ Absolutely.”