US Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona calls Trump ‘a bigot’ and ‘anti-Muslim’

PHOENIX – U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, a possible Senate candidate, called President Donald Trump a bigot Sunday on Twitter.

The Democrat’s blunt accusation was in response to White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney being quoted as saying “I don’t think anybody can say the president is anti-Muslim” in a tweet by CNN reporter Manu Raju.

I can say it. This President is a bigot, he is anti-Muslim. Who else wants to say it? https://t.co/QGNAVEdVOx

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) March 17, 2019

Gallego retweeted Raju’s post and added, “I can say it. This President is a bigot, he is anti-Muslim.”

The three-term congressman from Arizona’s 7th Congressional District didn’t go into detail about his accusation, but similar allegations have dogged Trump since he called for banning all Muslims from entering the U.S. while he was campaigning in 2015.

In his first month in office, the president attempted to restrict travel from several Muslim-majority countries. After numerous legal challenges, a third version of the ban was upheld by the Supreme Court last year.

Gallego, a U.S. Marines veteran, has said he would soon announce whether he will run for Senate in 2020. If he does, he would join former astronaut Mark Kelly in the Democratic field.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m looking seriously at running for the U.S. Senate in 2020, and that hasn’t changed. I’ll be making a final decision and announcement soon. #AZSEN

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) February 12, 2019

The party’s nominee would likely face incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally, who was appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey to the seat formerly held by the late Sen. John McCain.

By Arizona law, a special election will be held in 2020 to fill out the final two years of McCain’s term.

McSally replaced Ducey’s initial appointment, Jon Kyl, who filled the position after McCain’s death in August 2018 and stepped down at the end of 2018.

Gallego is the ex-husband of Kate Gallego, who last week was elected as Phoenix’s next mayor.

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