'Disgusting attempt': Trump appointee blasted for MAGA outreach in Black neighborhood
Donald Trump's hand-picked federal prosecutor got raked over the coals by community members after delivering MAGA pablum to residents in a Black neighborhood.
Ed Martin's brief tenure as interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., has been wracked by controversy related to his role on both sides of Jan. 6 cases, and he faced backlash during a visit to talk about crime in Anacostia, a neighborhood that's nearly 90 percent Black, wrote MSNBC columnist Ja'han Jones.
"Martin’s disconnect from attendees was glaringly obvious," Jones wrote. "According to the Washingtonian, he made an attempt to drive a wedge between Anacostia residents and Africans who have benefited from foreign aid. And it didn’t go over well."
The publication noted that Martin seemed to be "a back-slapping, friendly person by nature," and he started with a "conciliatory tone," but the crowd quickly turned on him when he equated their neighborhood to Africa.
When USAID sent hundreds of millions of dollars to central Africa, didn’t you ask, ‘why didn’t you send it to 7D? (the Seventh District),” Martin asked, according to the Washingtonian, which noted the crowd gave a resounding "no" in response. “You didn’t? Well you should. I did.”
The columnist blasted Martin, who was present at Jan. 6 and defended some of the rioters in court, for his divisive tone.
"This was a pretty disgusting attempt by Martin to sow division by invoking U.S. Agency for International Development cuts, which are inhibiting everything from HIV treatment to maternal health care in Africa," Jones wrote. "Martin appeared to be taking tips from his boss here: President Donald Trump peddled this same kind of 'foreigners are taking your money' schlock, particularly to Black audiences, during last year’s campaign."
Cora Masters Barry, the widow of former mayor Marion Barry, called him out, saying he needed to learn his politics, geography and world affairs, adding that he didn't sound very well read.
"Ouch," Jones wrote. "She basically called Martin an ignoramus to his face."
Barry also asked why he hadn't credited Metropolitan police for their success in bringing down crime and offered to help, and she advised Martin to “be careful how you talk to us.”
"This seems to have been a pretty disastrous showing by Martin, whose MAGA messaging clearly goes over well with hardcore Trump supporters — and far less so with residents of Anacostia," Jones wrote. "At least those residents appear to see him more as an occupying force in D.C., which Trump has said he wants to 'take over,' than a helpful partner to its communities."