Byron Donalds Responds To Cori Bush’s Racist Comments About His Speaker Nomination

Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) has responded to racist comments from his colleague Cori Bush (D-MO), who said that Donalds was being used as “a prop” by Republicans because he is black. 

Bush’s comments came in response to Donalds receiving a nomination for Speaker of the House on Wednesday and earning 20 votes from Republicans. 

“FWIW, @ByronDonalds is not a historic candidate for Speaker. He is a prop. Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy. His name being in the mix is not progress—it’s pathetic,” Bush tweeted.

FWIW, @ByronDonalds is not a historic candidate for Speaker. He is a prop. Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy.

His name being in the mix is not progress—it’s pathetic.

— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 4, 2023

Following backlash, Bush doubled down on her racist comments.

“My issue is because he was not someone they have been promoting for the last 2 years,” she said. “I want him to understand: They’re only using you.”

“I’m glad [Republicans] took offense,” she added. 

Cori Bush expands on her Byron Donalds "prop" comment to @ArthurDelaneyHP:

"My issue is because he was not someone they have been promoting for the last 2 years."

"I want him to understand: They’re only using you."

“I’m glad [Republicans] took offense."https://t.co/nIyii9ViMs

— Akbar Shahid Ahmed (@AkbarSAhmed) January 4, 2023

Donalds responded during an appearance on “Varney & Co,” saying, “If you see a Black man rise, let the man rise even if you disagree with them. I’d be happy to sit down and debate our policies one on one whenever you’d like. As a Black man to a Black woman, I’d never do that to you. It’s a shame you did it to me.”

.@CoriBush, if you see a Black man rise, let the man rise even if you disagree with them.

I’d be happy to sit down and debate our policies one on one whenever you’d like.

As a Black man to a Black woman, I’d never do that to you. It’s a shame you did it to me. pic.twitter.com/ojpEHLhSI4

— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) January 5, 2023