Steve King, a Republican congressman from Iowa, insisted on Monday that there was nothing wrong with the lack of diversity at the Republican National Convention since, he said, members of other races had contributed relatively little to human civilization.
King’s literal assertion of white supremacy, in response to criticism of the party by the Esquire blogger Charlie Pierce, came during a live appearance on MSNBC and seemed to stun the host, Chris Hayes, as well as Pierce and April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks’ Washington bureau chief.
WATCH: Rep. Steve King's response to RNC's lack of diversity #RNCinCLE https://t.co/9iyRf956Gs
— The ReidOut (@thereidout) July 18, 2016
“This ‘old white people’ business does get a little tired, Charlie,” King said. “I’d ask you to go back through history and figure out, where are these contributions that have been made by these other categories of people that you’re talking about? Where did any other subgroup of people contribute more to civilization?”
Asked by Hayes if he was arguing that other races had contributed less “than white people,” King added, “than Western civilization itself, that’s rooted in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the United States of America and every place where the footprint of Christianity settled the world.”
Although Ryan asked, “What about Africa? What about Asia?” Hayes took it upon himself to reply, noting that Western civilization had also contributed “Hitler and Stalin as well.”
King’s remarks were not well received on social networks by non-racists or those with even the slightest grasp of history.
Rep. Steve King's belief that the only contributions to civilization have come from white people is both astoundingly ignorant and racist.
— Imani Perry (@imaniperry) July 18, 2016
Because it's considered rude to call someone or something racist, people often fail to do so. But we can't let comments like that pass.
— Imani Perry (@imaniperry) July 18, 2016
Someone tell this guy that Christianity started in the Middle East. https://t.co/4sQcmSJ1ed
— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) July 19, 2016
@ShaunKing I'd point him to early science & math (Arabic), plus astronomy (Mayan/Egyptian) & mapping of the world (Chinese)
— BeffyMar2 (@BeffyMar2) July 19, 2016
Steve King is mentally stunted i think. He has unmasked himself according to @amjoyshow
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) July 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/LailaLalami/status/755184462514692100
https://twitter.com/common_since123/status/755180733216411648
Does anyone have the heart to tell Steve King about Arabic Numerals we are calling NOT IT https://t.co/ASeF3TQanj
— The Gregory Brothers (@gregorybrothers) July 18, 2016
Statements like this used to end careers. Now they're savvy career moves. Either way @SteveKingIA is a rancid bigot https://t.co/UxMxUAaaOK
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) July 19, 2016
King’s frank defense of the disproportionately white makeup of the Republican party came just days after Speaker Paul Ryan inadvertently drew attention to the same problem by posting a selfie on Instagram showing the lack of diversity in the party’s current crop of Capitol Hill interns.
There's something about this photo, I can't quite place it… pic.twitter.com/ZahcIHHTva
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) July 17, 2016
IT’S EVEN WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT.
What we’re seeing right now from Donald Trump is a full-on authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government.
This is not hyperbole.
Court orders are being ignored. MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse. News outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation.
Yet far too many are still covering Trump’s assault on democracy like politics as usual, with flattering headlines describing Trump as “unconventional,” “testing the boundaries,” and “aggressively flexing power.”
The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world. We understand the challenge we face in Trump and the vital importance of press freedom in defending democracy.
We’re independent of corporate interests. Will you help us?
IT’S BEEN A DEVASTATING year for journalism — the worst in modern U.S. history.
We have a president with utter contempt for truth aggressively using the government’s full powers to dismantle the free press. Corporate news outlets have cowered, becoming accessories in Trump’s project to create a post-truth America. Right-wing billionaires have pounced, buying up media organizations and rebuilding the information environment to their liking.
In this most perilous moment for democracy, The Intercept is fighting back. But to do so effectively, we need to grow.
That’s where you come in. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?
We’re independent of corporate interests. Will you help us?
I’M BEN MUESSIG, The Intercept’s editor-in-chief. It’s been a devastating year for journalism — the worst in modern U.S. history.
We have a president with utter contempt for truth aggressively using the government’s full powers to dismantle the free press. Corporate news outlets have cowered, becoming accessories in Trump’s project to create a post-truth America. Right-wing billionaires have pounced, buying up media organizations and rebuilding the information environment to their liking.
In this most perilous moment for democracy, The Intercept is fighting back. But to do so effectively, we need to grow.
That’s where you come in. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?
We’re independent of corporate interests. Will you help us?
Contact the author:
Latest Stories
The War on Immigrants
ICE Is Looking For Parking in New York City — For a 150-Vehicle Deportation Fleet
With its last contract expiring, activists say garage owners should spurn ICE to avoid becoming complicit in Trump’s deportation blitz.
Voices
How the Lebanon Ceasefire Could Make It Harder to End the War on Iran
The deal is a welcome reprieve from Israel’s bombing — but separating Lebanon from the ceasefire with Iran sets a dangerous precedent.
Progressive Group Founded by Bernie Sanders Endorses Billionaire for California Governor
Our Revolution is hoping to rally Democrats to Tom Steyer to prevent a Republican from taking the governor's mansion.