Prof. Lawless Chides President Trump on Lack of Empathy, Refusal to Speak Out on Political Violence

Prof. Lawless Chides President Trump on Lack of Empathy, Refusal to Speak Out on Political Violence

GoLocal interviewed University of Virginia Political Science Chair Jennifer Lawless this week and in a sweeping discussion covered recent developments in Washington, D.C. and the Middle East. 

The interview was conducted on Friday, before the U.S. attack on Iran.

Lawless criticized President Donald Trump for what she said is his lack of empathy and his refusal to speak out to condemn political violence.

Earlier this week, when Trump was asked if he planned to call Minnesota Governor Tim Walz following the shootings of elected officials in the state, Trump said the Democratic governor is "slick" and "whacked out" and said, "I'm not calling him."

Trump added, "The guy doesn't have a clue. He's a mess. So, you know, I could be nice and call him, but why waste time?"

“The Republicans have made it clear in their response that they are not particularly concerned and the President is not particularly concerned about political violence. And I don't remember a time in American history for the last hundred years where that's actually been the case," said Lawless. "The fact that Donald Trump said he's not going to call Tim Walz to talk about what happened in Minnesota — he's not going to call the sitting governor after there was an assassination of a Democratic House member and the shooting of a Democratic state senator because he thinks that Tim Walz is a dumb guy is unheard of It's unbelievable."

“We've long known that Donald Trump is not the consoler-in-chief but he has demonstrated that he lacks...when it comes to empathy, sympathy, and quite frankly class,” said Lawless. “This was the most disgusting response I could have possibly anticipated.”

Lawless also discussed the fight in Congress over the budget bill and, at the time, the growing fight between Israel and Iran.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE.