Rev. Al Sharpton, Michael Steele Respond To Trump Tweets: Video

BALTIMORE, MD — Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele invited President Donald Trump to Baltimore Monday, asking him to “put the tweet down and show up.” Steele continued addressing Trump at a news conference, encouraging him to walk with and talk to the Baltimore community in order to “realize and appreciate the hard work and commitment” residents have dedicated to the city.

“The energy they have, you will benefit from,” Steele said. “You will begin to understand why this is such a vibrant community, and you can help with that. Come on down, the streets are ready for you.”

Steele, alongside Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, gathered with others at New Shiloh Baptist Church Monday morning to discuss housing issues facing the Baltimore community. Prior to meeting, Steele and Sharpton addressed tweets by the president made over the weekend. In the tweets, Trump took aim at U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings, a federal lawmaker who lives in Baltimore.

The city was caught in the crossfire as Trump called it a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess," and he urged Cummings to spend more time there than worrying about the nation's southern border.

Opening his comments at the news conference, Steele, who also is a former chair of the Republican National Committee, said the president’s “reprehensible comments are like water off a duck’s back” when it comes to the Baltimore community. “It just washes over them,” Steele continued. “It doesn’t stick to them. It doesn’t stain them.”

Sharpton, who spoke prior to Steele, accused the president of playing a “race-divisive card.”

“Little did I know that Mr. Trump was, on the eve of this (meeting), going to attack a congressman from this city. And not only him, but the people of this city, in the most bigoted and racist way,” Sharpton said. “He attacks everybody, but he has a particular venom for blacks and people of color. He doesn’t refer to any of his other opponents or critics as ‘infested.’ He doesn’t attack their districts. He doesn’t say their districts are a place no human would live.”

Sharpton continued, urging the Baltimore community to not lose vision. “Call me a troublemaker, yes — I make trouble for bigots,” Sharpton said. “We are here today to talk about how to build together and get something done.”