INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Donald Trump, Transition Team Slammed For Carl Paladino Offensive Obama Comments, Here’s Why

By Meaghan Ellis
Published on: 10:39 PST, Dec 25, 2016

Carl Paladino has caused quite an uproar over the past few days with the controversial comments he’s made about President Obama and his family. Now, Donald Trump and his transition team are also being criticized. The problems reportedly began on Friday, Dec. 23. Paladino found himself at the center of controversy after his seemingly offensive, racially=charged comments about President Obama and the first lady were published by Artvoice, a weekly Buffalo newspaper.

When asked what he’d like to happen in 2017, the one-time Republican candidate for governor of New York was quoted saying, “Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Hereford,” in reference to the Hereford cattle breed, reports the New York Times. He also reportedly wished death on President Obama saying he “hoped the disease killed the president,” according to the publication.

However, he didn’t stop there. He also made an offensive comment toward first lady Michelle Obama. Like many others who have made similar offensive comments, Carl Paladino compared the first lady to a gorilla.

“I’d like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.”

As expected, Carl Paladino has sparked outrage and drawn criticism from many different directions. From outraged Democrats to Republicans, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Donald Trump’s transition team and even his own son, Paladino has been widely ridiculed for his unfiltered perspective and brash words.

In fact, the president-elect’s transition team has also made an effort to dissociate from Carl Paladino. Since many of Trump’s supporters have been categorized as racists, his association with Paladino has raised even more speculation now that his true opinion has been made public. So, the transition team has made an effort to denounce the comments.

“Carl’s comments are absolutely reprehensible, and they serve no place in our public discourse,” the transition team said in a statement, per the Washington Post.

Although most agree the comments are racist, Carl Paladino has a different perspective of the statements. In fact, he actually defended his comments and insists that it has nothing to do with racism. He also accused the press of embellishing the statement.

“It has nothing to do with race,” Paladino said. “That’s the typical stance of the press when they can’t otherwise defend the acts of the person being attacked. It’s about 2 progressive elitist ingrates who have hated their country so badly and destroyed its fabric in so many respects in 8 years,” he added.

Despite the statement released by Trump’s transition team, Carl Paladino has made it clear he’ll always give his honest opinion. He also revealed how he thinks the president-elect feels about his comments.

“I don’t think Mr. Trump particularly cares what I have to say,” Paladino said. “He knows me. I was active with him, and I still am active with him. And that’s it. I’ll say what I feel like saying.”

Carl Paladino’s response to the criticism has led many to believe Trump’s transition team released their statement as a form of damage control and nothing more. Despite the effort, many Americans just aren’t convinced Trump doesn’t share the same sentiments as Paladino, since he has not personally denounced the comments. Of course, Paladino has also been slammed on social media.

Check out some of the comments posted to Twitter:

Do you think Donald Trump shares the same sentiments as Carl Paladino or should he have flatly denounced the comments? Was the transition team’s statement a form of damage control? Share your thoughts.

[Image via Drew Angerer/Getty Images]

Share this article: Donald Trump, Transition Team Slammed For Carl Paladino Offensive Obama Comments, Here’s Why
More from Inquisitr