Trump Tweets Dog Whistle Calling Black Florida Gubernatorial Candidate 'A Thief'

In an obvious racist dog whistle, Donald Trump attacked the Democratic candidate for governor in Florida, Mayor Andrew Gillum of Tallahassee, today.

Trump compared Gillum to the Republican candidate, Rep. Ron DeSantis, bringing up DeSantis' college pedigree while calling Gillum a 'thief.'

In Florida there is a choice between a Harvard/Yale educated man named @RonDeSantisFL who has been a great Congressman and will be a great Governor - and a Dem who is a thief and who is Mayor of poorly run Tallahassee, said to be one of the most corrupt cities in the Country!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2018

Not only is it racist to call Gillum a “thief” for no apparent reason, but Trump is insinuating that Gillum’s education is somehow subpar.

Gillum went to Florida A&M, a top ranked HBCU.

The mayor wasted no time in clapping back at the Trumpster calling him a coward and 'weak:' "On Twitter there is a choice between having the courage to @ the person you are trash talking, or not. @realDonaldTrump is howling because he's weak. Florida, go vote today."

On Twitter there is a choice between having the courage to @ the person you are trash talking, or not. @realDonaldTrump is howling because he's weak. Florida, go vote today. https://t.co/I8uOokptJA

— Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) October 29, 2018

The governor's race in Florida is one of the most highly-watched elections this election cycle.

Gillum is the first black nominee from any major party for governor of Florida.

According to RealClearPolitics, Gillum currently leads DeSantis in polls by an average of 3.2 points.

There's no evidence Andrew Gillum is a thief. That's the first time Trump has called someone a thief on Twitter. Gillum is a Black man. pic.twitter.com/sfNUpceDOF

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) October 29, 2018

Trump, descending further, praises education credentials of white man running for governor of Florida, calls black man running against him “a thief” https://t.co/NjUR9GY1Ss

— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 29, 2018

There's zero evidence of Andrew Gillum's "thievery." Unlike his accuser, who was found GUILTY of defrauding students enrolled in something called Trump University.

— pwithm11 (@pwtham11) October 29, 2018

On the same day Trump tweets that Andrew Gillum is a "thief," Trump's whole family is hit with RICO charges for thievery.

Karma has, clearly, been in training. https://t.co/kDkcFf8Lny

— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) October 29, 2018

Florida: GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Says Voters Shouldn't "Monkey This Up" Voting For HIs Black Opponent

Ron DeSantis (L), Andrew Gillum (R)

Check out the dog whistle from Florida's newly-crowned Republican candidate for governor, Ron DeSantis, who says Floridians shouldn't "monkey this up" by electing his "articulate" Democratic opponent, Tallehasse Mayor Andrew Gillum, a black man.

Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis used the term 'monkey around' about his Black opponent Andrew Gillum pic.twitter.com/i2veCn8XzS

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) August 29, 2018

Now, racists have used the term "monkey" for decades to refer to black people.

DeSantis' campaign claims "monkey this up" is a phrase he uses all the time and it has nothing to do with race.

I've personally never heard the phrase in my life, and I tend to get around.

And what's with acknowledging Gillum as "articulate?"

#dogwhistle

Fox News apologized for DeSantis' comments a short time later.

The mayor of Tallehasse would be the first African-American to lead the state.  

Gillum clapped back with dignity:

Andrew Gillum's response to the remarks made by Ron DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/7Q4kMx52aO

— Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) August 29, 2018

No one really uses the expression “monkey this up,” even when they’re not running against a black man for governor It isn’t whether he intended that to be racist. It was racist. No walkback changes that. Nothing to add. https://t.co/Tr0GsJXUOx

— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 29, 2018