Yahoo News Donald Trump tweet row: BBC's Naga Munchetty praised for sharing ‘fury’ at ‘racist’ comments
BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty has been praised for speaking out against racism, saying that she has also been told to “go back where she’s come from”.
The British broadcaster said she was “absolutely furious” at comments made by Donald Trump, in which he told four Democratic politicians to “go back” to “the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.”
The normally impartial presenter said she was not there to give her opinion, but suggested the president’s remarks were “embedded with racism”.
“Every time I’ve been told as a woman of colour to ‘go home’, to ‘go back to where I’ve come from’, that was embedded in racism,” she told co-host Dan Walker.
“Now I’m not accusing anyone of anything here, but you know what certain phrases mean,” she added.
Mr Walker responded by asking his colleague: “I know you’re sitting here not giving an opinion, but how do you feel then, as someone who’s been told that before?”
“Furious. Absolutely furious,” she replied.
“I can imagine lots of people in this country will be feeling absolutely furious that a man in that position feels it’s OK to skirt the line of using language like that,” she added.
When Mr Walker said the president's actions felt like a “thought-out strategy to strengthen his position”, Ms Munchetty agreed, adding: “And it’s not enough to do it just to get attention – he’s in a responsible position.”
The BBC shared a clip of the exchange on its Twitter feed, sparking a flurry of comments and more than 180,000 views in a matter of hours.
“This should surprise me but sadly doesn’t. When people of ignorance are threatened by the talents of people of colour 'go home' is their default stance. Big respect for Naga Munchetty,” tweeted one supporter.
This should surprise me but sadly doesn’t. When people of ignorance are threatened by the talents of people of colour 'go home' is their default stance. Big respect for Naga Munchetty
— Martin Kelly (@disableddaddy)
“Both Naga and Dan were brilliant today. This is so important and I'm so glad they didn't give racism a platform without challenging it. Thank you,” wrote another.
“I appreciate you sharing your own experience. It really helps bring home the impact of Trump's comments. Appalling language,” another user added.
I appreciated you sharing your own experience. It really helps bring home the impact of Trump's comments. Appalling language.
— unfunny mummy (@unpreparedmum)
While another wrote: “Someone said to me ‘aren’t the BBC meant to be impartial?’
“Erm...@BBCNaga was ABSOLUTELY right to call this out. She and everyone else shouldn’t have to deal with it.”
It comes after President Trump insisted his comments were “NOT Racist”, tweeting on Wednesday: “I don’t have a Racist bone in my body!”
Those Tweets were NOT Racist. I don’t have a Racist bone in my body! The so-called vote to be taken is a Democrat con game. Republicans should not show “weakness” and fall into their trap. This should be a vote on the filthy language, statements and lies told by the Democrat.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
The US House of Representatives was unconvinced by his protests, voting later that day to officially condemn him for his Twitter attack.
After a rancorous debate, members of the Democrat-controlled chamber voted by 240 to 187 to denounce Mr Trump for making “racist comments that have legitimised fear and hatred of new Americans and people of colour”.
It was the first House rebuke of a president in more than 100 years.
