Trump-Endorsing Democrat Reverses Resignation: Dems are 'Bigots They Claim to Hate'
Jones became the first state-elected Democrat las week to endorse Trump
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Democrat lawmaker Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones who announced he was stepping down on Thursday due to backlash for endorsing President Donald Trump, has now reversed his decision after an outpouring of support.
Jones became the first state-elected Democrat last week to endorse Trump.
The Democrat described the president as a "transformative figure."
But a massive backlash ensued from his own party, forcing him to step down.
Rep. Vernon Jones, D-Lithonia, tweeted on Thursday:
"Yesterday, I announced my intentions to resign from my office."
"But shortly thereafter, the outpour[sic] of support I received was too great for me to ignore," continued.
"I will not allow the Democrats to bully me into submission. I will not let them win. I will NOT resign."
WATCH:
Yesterday, I announced my intentions to resign from my office. But shortly thereafter, the outpour of support I received was too great for me to ignore.
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) April 23, 2020
I will not allow the Democrats to bully me into submission. I will not let them win.
I will NOT resign. #MAGA pic.twitter.com/gR2MsU5Rb3
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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, praised Jones' decision and applauded him for "demonstrating the courage of your convictions."
Thank you, Senator Cruz. You’re a courageous American. https://t.co/cDZgcXDgNl
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) April 23, 2020
Last week, Jones announced in a video he was backing Trump because he supported criminal justice reform and historically black colleges and universities.
But the backlash from democrats was undeniable.
The way the Democrat Party has treated me this past week has made one thing clear: they are the bigots they claim to hate and I won’t be silent about it. pic.twitter.com/9kE9kcfWKS
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) April 23, 2020
Georgia Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikema Williams responded to Jone's endorsement of Trump in a prepared statement:
“Vernon Jones is an embarrassment to the Democratic Party and does not stand for our values.“
"He chose to stand with the racist president who has made an all-out assault on black Americans … during the most important election of our lifetimes.”
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Jones said in a statement released Wednesday:
“I’m sick and tired of me and my family being attacked and harassed by the Democrat Party for putting my country before my party."
“I take pride in being an independent thinker,” Jones added.
Jones also accused Democrats of acting like "the bigots they claim to hate."
"The way the Democrat Party has treated me this past week has made one thing clear: they are the bigots they claim to hate, and I won’t be silent about it," he said.
In an accompanying video, Jones said:
"I will continue to let the Democratic Party know that the bigotry within this party is hurting African-Americans -- and more and more African-Americans are thinking independently."
Jones' stated he wishes to hold Democrats "accountable to how they are treating black people (and) root out the bigotry.”
