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White House responds to 'appalling' chants of 'vote him out' directed at Trump during RBG memorial

John T. Bennett
Washington Bureau Chief
Thursday 24 September 2020 19:25 BST
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Trump booed by crowds while paying respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg
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The White House lashed out at people who chanted for him to lose re-election while he stood on the steps of the Supreme Court building in Washington to pay his respects to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

“Everyone has a First Amendment in this country, biut I thought it was an appalling and disrespectful thing to do while the president was honouring Justice Ginsburg,” press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Thursday.

As Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stood atop the high court steps beside Ms Ginsburg’s casket, the crowd outside was silent as raindrops could be heard on television footage.

Then came a chorus of boos. Mr Trump, wearing a dark blue mask, stood motionless.

A few seconds later, the crowd began chanting “vote him out!”

The president and first lady stood in their spots for a few more seconds before turning and heading back inside the high court. 

Mr Trump visited Ms Ginsburg’s casket despite ignoring and mocking her dying wish: for the next president to fill her seat. The president told Fox News earlier this week he believes she did not dictate that wish to her granddaughter, but her family was fed it by Democratic congressional leaders.

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