Trump Tweets About Baltimore; Mayor Calls Him 'A Disappointment'

BALTIMORE, MD — President Donald J. Trump has taken aim at a federal lawmaker who lives in Baltimore. Trump tweeted Saturday morning a message directed at U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings, with Baltimore caught in the crossfire.

The president called Charm City a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess," urging the congressman to spend more time there than worrying about the nation's southern border. Cummings, who lives in Baltimore, called on the president to follow through with prescription drug regulation reform.

Then Baltimore Mayor Jack Young weighed in on the exchange, and he did not mince words.

Young called it "completely unacceptable" for POTUS to say such negative things about the city.

"As the Mayor of Baltimore, I won't stand for anyone, not even the alleged Leader of the Free World, attacking our great City or our representative to Congress," Young wrote in a statement. "Mr. Trump, you are a disappointment to the people of Baltimore, our country, and to the world."

This was the beginning:

When Trump referenced "shouting and screaming," he was recalling the July 19 hearing where Cummings, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, took to task acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan regarding conditions for children in detention facilities at the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Rep, Elijah Cummings has been a brutal bully, shouting and screaming at the great men & women of Border Patrol about conditions at the Southern Border, when actually his Baltimore district is FAR WORSE and more dangerous," Trump tweeted. "His district is considered the Worst in the USA....As proven last week during a Congressional tour, the Border is clean, efficient & well run, just very crowded," Trump tweeted before 7:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 27.

"Cumming District is a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess," he continued. "If he spent more time in Baltimore, maybe he could help clean up this very dangerous & filthy place."

Cummings tweeted a reply to the president after 11 a.m.

"Mr. President, we can address this together. Two years ago, I went to the White House to ask you to endorse my bill to let the government negotiate directly for lower drug prices."