GOP Lawmakers Dodge Questions About Trump’s Protestor Tweet

Most Republican lawmakers are refusing to give their opinions a tweet from President Donald Trump where he suggested that that 75-year-old Martin Gugino, who was hospitalized after being shoved by police in Buffalo on video, "Could be an ANTIFA provocateur."

Trump made the remark on Tuesday morning, writing, "Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?"

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1270333484528214018?s=20

But on Capitol Hill, Republican lawmakers are refusing to even read the president's tweet, which a Politico reporter printed out.

Politico reporter Jake Sherman wrote on Twitter that Republican lawmakers are "refusing to read [the print-out of the tweet] in the presence of other human beings, and certainly declining comment on it."

https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1270405952504725504?s=20

Among the Republicans willing to comment on the tweet was Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who told reporters, "It was a shocking thing to say. And I won't dignify it with any further comments."

https://twitter.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1270401812131123202?s=20

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who has sometimes been critical of the president's behavior on Twitter was apparently stunned when she was shown the tweet too, responding simply "Oh lord, ugh. Why would you fan the flames? That's all I'm going to say."

During a press briefing on Tuesday, New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo slammed Trump, saying, "What do you think, you think it was staged? You think the blood coming out of his head was staged? You saw his head hit the pavement, you see blood on the pavement."

Cuomo also addressed Trump's remark that "he fell harder than he was pushed." Cuomo said, "How reckless, how irresponsible, how mean, how cruel."

https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1270385416198291456?s=20

He added, "I mean, if there was ever a reprehensible, dumb comment — and from the President of the United States — at this moment of anguish and anger, what does he do? Pours gasoline on the fire."