Washington Free Beacon editor in chief Matthew Continetti argued there are "dangers" to "ratcheting up the talks on race" while discussing President Donald Trump's recent comments about Baltimore during an appearance on Fox News's Special Report on Monday.
"I think you see in that clip the dangers of going down this political strategy of ratcheting up the talks on race. Race is fundamentally a problem for American society, and it's something a lot of people hold very deep personal views about and so by emphasizing it you really are polarizing this country. There is a downside politically. If you think about it, Donald Trump barely won independents in the exit poll in 2016 by four points. If you look at the polls, the group that hates these tweets the most are independents. So you might be able to rally your side your cause with these tweets but you are turning off others," Continetti said.
Continetti was referencing a clip showing CNN anchor Victor Blackwell emotionally responding to Trump's criticism of Baltimore.
Trump went after Rep. Elijah Cummings (D., Md.) and his Baltimore-based congressional district over the weekend, tweeting that Cumming has been a "brutal bully, shouting and screaming at the great men & women of Border Patrol about conditions at the Southern Border, when actually his Baltimore district is FAR WORSE and more dangerous."
Trump also described the district as a "a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess."
On Monday, Trump attacked Rev. Al Sharpton, calling him "a con man" who "Hates Whites & Cops."
The president's comments drew rebukes from Sharpton and Maryland governor Larry Hogan, a Republican. Trump also faced accusations of racism.
A CNN exit poll from 2016 showed the president narrowly won independent voters by a 4 percent margin, 46 percent for Trump and 42 percent for Hillary Clinton. A poll from earlier this month found a majority of independents felt Trump's attacks on four Democratic congresswoman—in which he said they should "go back" from where they came from—crossed the line.