'Humiliating to watch': Al Sharpton slams Tim Scott’s 'embarrassing' pro-Trump antics
After Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) launched his 2024 presidential campaign, his supporters hailed him as a traditional non-MAGA conservative who could rescue the GOP from Trumpism if he won the nomination and become the United States' second Black president by defeating Democratic incumbent Joe Biden in the general election.
But Scott's critics argued that his criticism of Trump during the primary was tepid at best. The South Carolina senator is now campaigning for Trump, and the Rev. Al Sharpton is among the Scott critics who believe he is debasing himself in the process.
After Trump defeated former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the New Hampshire primary, Scott stood alongside the GOP presidential frontrunner during his victory speech. Trump told Scott, "Did you ever think (Haley) actually supported you, Tim? And you're the senator of her state. And (you) endorsed me. You must really hate her."
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Scott responded, "I just love you."
During a January 24 appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Sharpton slammed Scott's behavior in New Hampshire as "humiliating to watch."
The civil rights activist and MSNBC host argued, "I think (Trump) will be the nominee. And I think he's demanding people bow to him. There are few moments in my life I've been more embarrassed than to watch Tim Scott. You know, I know Tim and I are both practicing Christians, but I don't know if he could pray like that to the other side. I mean, it was humiliating to watch what Tim Scott did as a sitting senator. And one time, he wasn't even on the script; he interrupted Trump to pay homage."
Sharpton went on to tell "Morning Joe" hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, "He has a right to be a Republican. He has a right to do Donald Trump. But to do it in such a way that is so humiliating was troubling."
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Sharpton isn't the only one who is calling out Scott's obsequious behavior on behalf of Trump.
Never Trump conservative Tara Setmayer said of Scott, "Who's worse? Trump or his court jester enablers?"
On X, formerly Twitter, author Jeff Sharlet posted, "I hold Tim Scott in contempt, but the depth of self-abasement here is hard to look at. All the more so for understanding how Trump's supporters see it, a racist inoculation against charges of racism that in turn 'permits' more racism.
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Watch the full video of Al Sharpton's MSNBC appearance below:
