Joe Walsh: ‘I Wouldn’t Call Myself a Racist’ But ‘I’ve Said Racist Things’

Former one-term Tea Party congressman Joe Walsh, who recently announced he’s making a 2020 primary challenge against President Trump, acknowledged on Monday that he has “said racist things on Twitter” over the years, notably against former President Obama.

Pointing out that Walsh had repeatedly pushed birther conspiracies about Obama and recently even used the N-word on Twitter, Heilemann asked Walsh how he would be able to tell African-Americans he has the moral standing to challenge Trump when he looks just as racist as the president.

“Yeah, and I wouldn’t call myself a racist but I would say, John, I’ve said racist things on Twitter,” Walsh replied. “There’s no doubt about it. And an apology is not enough.”