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Published 10:47 IST, October 23rd 2019

Donald Trump equates impeachment to lynching, stirs US' racist history

US President Donald Trump, in a new stint, has now equated the official Democratic congressional impeachment inquiry over Ukrainegate against him to "lynching,"

Reported by: Aishwaria Sonavane
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Donald Trump, in a new stint, has now equated the Democratic congressional impeachment inquiry over Ukrainegate against him to "lynching," a historic contrivance that was used against African Americans by White Supremacists. "All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here - a lynching," the President of United States stated in a tweet.

READ| Trump on new 'Russian asset' claims, says "Hillary's gone crazy!" 

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Historians have opined that white supremacists, during the dark past of slavery in the United States, used 'lynching' as a mean to terrorise the Black Americans with the motive to impose social and racial control. 

By leveraging a sensitive chapter from the past in American history, Trump drew criticism from across the political spectrum.  Democratic Presidential contender Kamala Harris wrote, "Lynching is a reprehensible stain on this nation's history, as is this President. We'll never erase the pain and trauma of lynching, and to invoke that torture to whitewash your own corruption is disgraceful."

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"Lynching is a horrific stain on our country's history, and it is beyond disgraceful for Donald Trump to invoke one to avoid being held accountable for his crimes. Nobody is above the law, not even the president of the United States," said another Democratic Presidential contender Elizabeth Warren.

Since taking charge in the White House, Donald Trump on multiple occassions has made provocative, racist statements. Along with that, the US President has been fervently critical of the impeachment inquiry launched against him. 

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READ| Democratic voters concentrate on candidates, not impeachment

Trump over impeachment 

In the past, Donald Trump has called the impeachment "totally illegal and absurd," while calling himself one of the "most successful" Presidents on October 16.

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"You would think there is NO WAY that any of the Democrat Candidates that we witnessed last night could possibly become President of the United States. Now you see why they have no choice but to push a totally illegal & absurd Impeachment of one of the most successful Presidents!," Trump said [sic]

On the same day, Trump in addition to his rant called the official impeachment inquiry a "fraud," saying, "95% Approval Rating in the Republican Party. Thank you! Just won two Congressional Seats in North Carolina,  & a Governor's runoff in Louisiana, which Republicans should now win! Because of Impeachment Fraud, we will easily take back the House, add in the Senate, & again win Pres!" [sic]

As House Democrats fire off more subpoenas, the White House is finalising a high-stakes strategy to counter the impeachment threat to President Donald Trump: Stall. Obfuscate. Attack. Repeat.

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10:16 IST, October 23rd 2019