Cory Booker ‘Ran Newark Into The Ground’ As Mayor, Trump Says

NEWARK, NJ — President Donald Trump has apparently been keeping an eye on the politics of Essex County. And just so it’s clear for the record: he’s not a big fan of former Newark mayor and current U.S. Senator Cory Booker.

“Take a look at Cory Booker,” the President remarked during a news conference on Monday to announce a new trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico (see video below).

“He ran Newark into the ground,” Trump said. “He was a horrible mayor.”

The President also blasted the Democratic Party leader and rumored POTUS hopeful for a blog post that he wrote as a student at Stanford University in 1992, where he “groped” a classmate and reached for her breast. Booker was attempting to use the experience to highlight how his own views on gender have shifted and to advocate for sexual respect.

• See related article: Menendez Rips Bob Hugin For Alleged 'Anti-Gay, Anti-Woman' Past

On Monday, Trump pointed out that Booker’s vocal opposition of his U.S. Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh, seems to contradict his “groping” experience at college. “He actually made the statements,” Trump said. “And now he's talking about Judge Kavanaugh.”

It wasn’t the first time Trump has gone on the offensive against Booker… and it wasn’t the first time he pulled out the “ran Newark into the ground” tagline either.

“He ran Newark into the ground… and now he wants to be president,” Trump quipped at a rally in West Virginia last month (see video below). He then laughed off Booker’s recent “Spartacus” moment, when the senator threatened to release pre-approved documents regarding Kavanaugh’s past on the third day of the judge’s confirmation hearings.

For what it’s worth, Booker hasn’t been silent about his disdain for Trump and his administration, either, blasting the POTUS for his stances on tax reform, immigration and the environment (watch videos below).

• See related article: Sen. Booker Says Trump's Supreme Court Pick 'Should Be Rejected'
• See related article: NJ Senator Rips DHS Head Over Trump's 'Vile' Comments (WATCH)

MAYOR TO TRUMP: ‘COME TO NEWARK’

On Thursday, current Newark Mayor Ras Baraka stood up for the city and Booker against Trump’s recent bashing.

“Newark is a national leader in developing new ways to create affordable housing, building trust between community and police, enlisting corporations to hire local residents, protecting undocumented immigrants and bringing the arts to every neighborhood,” Baraka said.

Baraka issued a challenge to Trump:

“There are construction cranes everywhere, billions of dollars in development is taking place, crime is down, and we have the nation’s fastest fiber internet network. This success is the result of the work of my administration, the collaboration of our stakeholders and residents, the momentum begun by Senator Cory Booker when he was mayor and his continued effective work to deliver for Newark. If Donald Trump thinks otherwise, he should come to Newark and see the amazing things happening here with his own eyes. It is Trump that is running America into the ground.”

• See related article: Don't Believe The Cynicism, Newark Is On The Rise, Mayor Says
• See related article: Newark Protests Trump; Mayor Says City Will Protect Undocumented Immigrants

Trump’s comment on Monday hasn’t been the only time he’s set off political ripples in Essex County. Last month, the President tweeted a surprise endorsement for Republican Jay Webber in the race for New Jersey's 11th district congressional seat, which encompasses Essex, Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties.

“He is outstanding in every way. Strong on Borders, loves our Military and our Vets. Big Crime fighter. Jay has my Full and Total Endorsement!”

Webber’s main competitor in the race – Democratic primary winner Mikie Sherrill – released the following statement after Trump’s tweet:

"Assemblyman Webber was Governor Christie's man in Trenton, and he will be President Trump's man in Washington. We know from his record that he consistently puts his own ideology ahead of those he represents. We've seen it time and time again with his vocal support for the tax hike bill, his vote against equal pay for equal work, and his repeated votes against women's reproductive health. We need new leadership in Washington, and Assemblyman Webber would simply be more of the same.”

• See related article: Trump Tweets Support Of Webber In NJ-11

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Photo 1: YouTube / The White House

Photo 2: YouTube / Senator Cory Booker