Republicans took the Hatch Act out in Washington, D.C., then shot it repeatedly, and Donald Trump still has support from his base. Trump decided to use the backdrop of the White House as an infomercial for his reelection during the Republican National Convention. The president is desperately trying to garner votes from the very groups he has lashed out at during his nearly four years in office. Trump has done this with women, and he did that during the RNC as the president featured individuals being granted U.S. citizenship.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the participants did not appear to know that they were being used as RNC guests.
Sudha Narayanan and Neimat Awadelseid — both from Sudan — said they were unaware that the footage would be used for the Republican Convention. The news outlet reports that several critics have said in interviews that it was inappropriate for the administration not to inform the participants that they would be part of a political event — and further noted that the Trump administration had sought to curb illegal and legal immigration. It was just another stunt, and nothing more, apparently.
Tim Miller — the political director for the group “Republican Voters Against Trump” and a Republican strategist — said Trump was exploiting people.
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“He’s exploiting these people at a ceremony that is sacred and fundamental to what makes this country great,” Miller said. “He’s using them in the most cynical and dishonest way. His own policies would cut refugee admissions and asylum status, making it hard for these naturalization ceremonies to happen.”
Both women said they weren’t given details on why their ceremony was being held at the White House. Presidents have hosted naturalization ceremonies in the past.”
Naturalization ceremonies have been held in the past at the White House, but not as part of a Republican convention. That’s probably because holding a convention event at the White House likely violates ethics’ laws.
Narayanan, 66, explained that her husband was the one guest she was allowed to bring to the ceremony. She said they waited with the other four immigrants in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The individuals were told just minutes before the ceremony that Trump would be attending, but she said the convention wasn’t discussed. It also gives the appearance of an endorsement to have the new U.S. citizens featured at the convention.
Featured image via Gage Skidmore/Flickr, under Creative Commons license 2.0
