Democratic Tennessee State Rep. Justin Pearson has come under fire for his recent remarks about the United States president. While speaking to a reporter during a nine-mile protest walk in Memphis held to defend District 9, the state’s sole Democratic district with a Black majority, Pearson referred to Trump as a “white supremacist terrorist” who is attempting to undermine democracy. The moment, which was captured on video and shared on X, has quickly gone viral, drawing thousands of views and widespread criticism.
In the clip, Pearson accused the president of “seeking to destroy our democracy by any means necessary, including by usurping democracy itself and the voices of the people.” He also claimed that Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and his administration were working in alignment with Trump to “attack Black people” and prevent them from electing Black representatives in the state.
The remarks come after Trump publicly urged Lee via Truth Social to call a special session and redraw Tennessee’s congressional districts in a way that could flip District 9. In response, Pearson released a statement on Saturday, arguing that Lee was doing the “bidding” of Trump to “steal an election with gerrymandering” at the expense of the district’s residents.
“We will defend Tennessee’s only Democratic and only majority-Black district from this racist attack on Black political power,” the statement read. “We will uphold the legacy of our ancestors who prayed, marched, fought, bled and even died so that we could have the opportunity to participate in our democracy and elect representatives who share our values, concerns and lived experiences.”
Public Reaction to Pearson’s Remarks
Many netizens on X expressed outrage at the Tennessee lawmaker, particularly over the language he used to describe the president. One person claimed, “He is inciting violence against a sitting president.” Another said, “This is exactly the kind of rhetoric that escalates tensions instead of lowering them.” A third asked, “What has Trump done that makes him a white supremacist?” while a fourth added, “Everyone spewing this hateful nonsense needs to be held accountable… It’s disgusting!”
Some also questioned his credibility and judgment. “This ignorant man was thoroughly groomed & brainwashed by misinformation, disinformation & malinformation from Democrat leftwing extremists,” one comment read. Another wrote, “This is a Representative of the people? Are the people really that stupid or brainwashed?”
While backlash to his remarks continues, Pearson, who is currently running for Congress, has also been advocating for policies such as ending gun violence, addressing poverty, and expanding access to healthcare.
