2020 Democratic candidates rip Trump remarks at campaign rally

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Democratic presidential candidates ripped President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE’s remarks at a rally Wednesday night in North Carolina, where he ramped up his criticism of four progressive minority congresswomen.

Sen. Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-N.J.), a 2020 presidential hopeful, compared what was said at Trump’s Wednesday night rally to the language used by segregationist former Alabama Gov. George Wallace in the 1960s. 

ADVERTISEMENT”My parents, my mom watched in black and white on TV, George Wallace with accusations of communism, the same language, the same bigotry, the same hate that we see now,” Booker said on MSNBC after the rally. “My mom watched it in black and white and today millions of Americans saw it in full color.”

During Trump’s rally in North Carolina, he again attacked Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarHow language is bringing down Donald Trump Biden, Democrats seek to shut down calls to defund police McEnany, Ocasio-Cortez tangle over ‘Biden adviser’ label MORE (D-Minn.), a freshman lawmaker who is part of a group of progressive congresswomen of color he said should “go back” to where they came from.

“Send her back,” the crowd chanted in response. 

Booker said it’s “sadly” the kind of politics America has seen before, noting the “Know Nothing” party used similar rhetoric against Irish and German immigrants in the 1850s.

“He’s preying on bigotry to try to propel himself forward, but now he’s in the most powerful position in the land,” Booker said. 

Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE, another 2020 hopeful, said in a series of tweets in response to the rally that Trump is “trying to divide us by race and gender.” 

“It’s immoral. Our children are listening,” Biden tweeted. 

“Donald Trump thinks that our nation’s great diversity makes us weak — because he has no idea what makes us great. Here’s what has always made America great: Honesty. Decency. Treating everyone with dignity. Demonizing no one — not the poor, the powerless, the immigrant, the other. Giving hate no safe harbor. Understanding that, as Americans, we are part of something bigger than ourselves.”

Washington Gov. Jay InsleeJay Robert InsleeInslee calls on Trump to ‘stay out of Washington state’s business’ Seattle mayor responds to Trump: ‘Go back to your bunker’ Trump warns he will take back Seattle from ‘ugly Anarchists’ if local leaders don’t act MORE, another Democrat seeking the presidency, tweeted that Omar “makes our country and our Congress better.” 

“There should not be a racist occupying the Oval Office,” he added in another tweet.

Rep. Seth MoultonSeth MoultonEx-CBO director calls for more than trillion in coronavirus stimulus spending Overnight Defense: Trump’s move to use military in US sparks backlash | Defense officials take heat | Air Force head calls Floyd’s death ‘a national tragedy’ Democrats blast Trump’s use of military against protests MORE (D-Mass.) said Trump’s attack on Omar is “horrific, racist garbage.”

— This report was updated on July 18 at 8:53 a.m.