Rep. Maxine Waters declared on Saturday that America is getting “more racist” by the day.
The moment: Waters, a Democrat from California, appeared on Los Angeles’ KTLA TV station to respond to Sen. Tim Scott’s rebuttal of President Joe Biden’s first address to Congress on Wednesday.
- “Well, you know, I don’t know if he was counseled to say that or whether he really believes that,” Waters said of Scott’s assertion that America is not a racist country. “If you really believe that, then he has missed not only the history of the country but what is going right now.”
- Referring to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Waters said, “Every day, we have seen this nation get more racist than anybody thought perhaps would be at this point in time.”
Fact check: Waters’ comments defy polling and social science studies that have found racial animus in steep decline in America — including during the Trump administration.
- Nevertheless, public perception of racism persisted.
Maximum Maxine: Waters, a veteran firebrand on racial issues, last month urged protesters to “stay on the street” and “get more confrontational” if Derek Chauvin was acquitted in the killing of George Floyd.
- Judge Peter Cahill said Water’s comments could lead to the murder trial being overturned a day before Chauvin was convicted of all charges.
