Black GOP senator: Trump-Lewis feud ‘verbal Russian roulette’

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the chamber’s only black Republican, questioned early Sunday whether Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) is immune to criticism because of his past as a hero of the Civil Rights Movement.

Scott was responding on “Fox & Friends” to the public feud unfolding between President-elect Donald Trump and the longtime congressman, who is black. 

After Lewis told NBC’s “Meet the Press” said he does not view Trump as a “legitimate president” and would be skipping the Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump fired back on Twitter, saying Lewis is “all talk” and “no action.”

When asked about the back-and-forth, Scott said what should be “very concerning for both sides and for the American people is the fact we’re starting to play a game of verbal Russian roulette that will not help this country come together.” 

“I think, no doubt, I disagree with what he said. I think he should be present at the inauguration,” Scott said of Lewis. 

“I’m not sure that he’s immune to criticism. I think how we respond to criticism is very important however,” Scott added. 

“Both sides have real challenges for their interaction, but yes, we should find a way to focus on the issues that bring America together,” he continued.

“And unfortunately, the weekend that we celebrate the life and the sacrifice of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the notion that somehow all of god’s children, black ones, and white ones, brown ones and red ones, should join hands and sing with new meaning. I think we should focus on that future, and unfortunately, I have not seen that,” Scott said.