Maryland lawmakers slam ‘despicable’ Trump remark about journalists on newsroom shooting anniversary

Maryland lawmakers on Friday sharply criticized President Trump for talking about getting rid of journalists on the anniversary of a shooting at the Capital Gazette’s newsroom in Annapolis that killed five people.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D), Sen. Ben Cardin (D) and Rep. David Trone (D) each chastised Trump’s remarks about reporters while speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Group of 20 summit in Japan.

{mosads}Trump reportedly said, “Get rid of them,” as members of the press were ushered out of the room.

“Fake news is a great term, isn’t it? You don’t have this problem in Russia, but we do,” Trump said, according to Bloomberg’s Jennifer Jacobs, who is traveling with the president.

“We also have. It’s the same,” Putin responded. The two leaders then chuckled about their comments, Jacobs reported.

Van Hollen called Trump’s remarks “despicable.” 

“Mr. President, Maryland is mourning the loss of five journalists who were murdered at the Capital Gazette shooting one year ago today,” he tweeted. “Instead of taking action to combat the gun violence epidemic in America, you’re joking with Putin about getting rid of journalists? Despicable.”

Mr. President, Maryland is mourning the loss of five journalists who were murdered at the Capital Gazette shooting one year ago today. Instead of taking action to combat the gun violence epidemic in America, you’re joking with Putin about getting rid of journalists? Despicable. https://t.co/5cCKSrkjEv

— Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) June 28, 2019

Trone called the president’s remark “a disgrace.”

“This is a disgrace. A year ago we lost five people in the Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis,” Trone tweeted.

This is a disgrace. A year ago we lost five people in the Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis.

Today should be about commemorating the lives we’ve lost and fighting for a future with no gun violence. We must do better. https://t.co/jWQJWPKoL7

— Rep. David Trone (@RepDavidTrone) June 28, 2019

Cardin said that while such remarks by the president would be “unacceptable” any time, they were particularly offensive on the shooting anniversary.

“On the one-year anniversary of the deadliest newsroom shooting in American history, this is totally unacceptable,” he tweeted. “It would be on any day, but today it is especially reprehensible.”

On the one-year anniversary of the deadliest newsroom shooting in American history, this is totally unacceptable. It would be on any day, but today it is especially reprehensible. @CapGazette https://t.co/Ad9sztj8W4

— Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) June 28, 2019