The Democratic front-runner in the nation’s most-watched Senate race is under fire for using a racial slur during a committee meeting shortly after introducing a local black official.
Maryland Rep. David Trone, 68, referred to “this Republican Ji Boo” during Thursday’s House Budget Committee meeting, a video of his speech showed.
He used outdated and offensive language toward black people shortly after welcoming Shalanda Young, a black woman who heads the Office of Management and Budget, to a meeting. The Washington Post pointed out:
“So this Republican congressman is booing that tax rates are stopping business investment. This is completely the fault of people who have never run a business or been in business.” said Trone, who is also co-owner of Total Wine & Wine Co. more.
He never seemed to pause or notice what he was saying as he continued to praise President Biden’s tax policies.
But even though most people didn’t think he meant it as a racial slur, X users quickly noticed.
“Congressman. David Tron needs to explain why TF used the word j-boo in today’s budget hearing.” Reese Colbert writes: The host of SiriusXM’s “The Reese Colbert Show” called it “absolutely bizarre.”
“He should know better since the ad portrays him as a racial justice warrior,” she argued.
Trone, who is widely expected to face former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, later apologized.
“Today I tried to use the word ‘bugaboo’ at the hearing and ended up using an offensive term,” he said. said in a statement to FOX News.
Tron’s use of the word “bugaboo”, which means something to be feared, “has a long, dark, frightening history,” he said.
“It should never be used anytime, anywhere, in any conversation.”
“I recognize that I have privilege as a white person. And as an elected official, I have a responsibility for the words I use, especially in times like these,” Tron said. He continued.
“Regardless of what I was trying to say, I shouldn’t have used that word.”
Tron told the Washington Post that he had no idea what “Ji Boo” meant and was “very disappointed” when he found out.
However, this incident marks the second time in a week that Tron has faced harsh treatment for his comments.
According to Fox News, he has previously expressed support for granting citizenship and voting rights to millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States.
Mr. Tron then voted against the Laken-Reilly Act, which gives Immigration and Customs Enforcement the power to detain immigrants who commit theft, robbery, theft, and other shoplifting crimes.
