Colorado Dems Slam Trump, Colorado GOP Over Ethiopia Dam Threat
Denver, CO - Nahome Yifru, Chair of the Ethiopian Initiative of the Colorado Democratic Party, and Morgan Carroll, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, released the following statements in response to Donald Trump’s Friday threats against the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project:
Nahome Yifru, Chair of the Ethiopian Initiative of the Colorado Democratic Party:
“America is seen around the world as the beacon of hope and a fair broker for many conflicts. However, President Trump’s xenophobic and racist comments have eroded the trust that was built around the world and in Ethiopia through the years. When we heard the President’s threatening comments about allowing Egypt to blow up the Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD), we could not help but remember the s***hole countries comment at the white house and his constant cajoling of dictators like Putin and Alsisi of Egypt. His calloused comments not only show his ignorance on the geopolitical situation, but his reckless disregard for the Ethiopian American community. The GERD project is already a delicate topic between Egypt and Ethiopia. It is solely based on abhorrent colonial treaties that did not take into consideration the wishes of the Ethiopian people. Instead of using America’s unique position as the sole superpower in the world and being a fair and effective mediator, President Trump signaled to Egypt that it will be ok with him and America if they bombed the GERD, which is built using the scarce resources of one of the world’s most impoverished nations, Ethiopia.
“Colorado Republicans like Cory Gardner and Ken Buck have chosen to remain silent in the face of this threat against Ethiopia. Voters in the Colorado Ethiopian American community have been strongly mobilized because of this insensitive remark and are making sure their voices are heard at the ballot box against this President and his enablers.”
Morgan Carroll, Colorado Democratic Party Chair:
“Colorado Democrats condemn this reckless and irresponsible rhetoric from Donald Trump. Like he has done his entire presidency, Trump has shown little curiosity or care to study the complexities of international relations -- unless you count the time Trump referred to African nations as ‘****hole’ countries. Our state is home to tens of thousands of members of the Ethiopian community, and we at the Colorado Democratic Party stand in solidarity with them against this dangerous war mongering by Donald Trump.”
Congressman Jason Crow responded to the news on Friday, calling Trump’s words “reckless and uninformed”.
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