Democrat VP Hopeful Tries to Shame Trump for Mount Rushmore Speech — Gets Accused of Hypocrisy

A 2020 Democratic vice presidential hopeful on Sunday slammed President Donald Trump for speaking at Mount Rushmore, saying the site was “stolen from Native Americans.”

But Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, was until recently such a fan of the national memorial that she wanted to wear it as a symbol of her patriotism, Washington Examiner Jerry Dunleavy noted.

Then: Duckworth tweeted on July 4, 2015 that she planned to dress up as Mount Rushmore for the next Fourth of July.
 

"Remember that the President at Mt. Rushmore was standing on ground that was stolen from Native Americans who had actually been given that land during a treaty."
—Tammy Duckworth (July 5, 2020)

I wonder what changed in the past 5 years...

(This is why I love the Veepstakes btw) https://t.co/jnXtzGJGLe

— JERRY DUNLEAVY (@JerryDunleavy) July 5, 2020

Duckworth was at the time a congresswoman for Illinois, known for combining a progressive policy platform with unapologetic patriotism.

Now: The now-senator, who is reportedly a top contender for the Democratic vice presidential nomination, appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" and criticized Trump for his July Fourth celebration at Mount Rushmore.

• Duckworth dodged when asked to comment on anti-racism protesters who have torn down statues of American founders, like George Washington, and pivoted back to bashing Trump.
• "Remember that the president at Mt. Rushmore was standing on ground that was stolen from Native Americans who had actually been given that land during a treaty," she said.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth on President Trump's Mt. Rushmore speech where he defended Confederate monuments: "His priorities are wrong. What are we going to do to push Russia back? Instead, he had no time for that. He spent all his time talking about dead traitors" #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/Qs6bzdGGY3

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 5, 2020

Pressed by host Dana Bash on whether presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden needs to choose a black woman as his running mate, Duckworth did not offer a definitive response.

• Biden “needs to make his own mind and will make his own mind,” she said.

At least four black women are said to be on Biden' all-female shortlist for vice presidential nominee.

• Duckworth is Thai American.
• She did not respond to request for comment.