Former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeySteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Judge will not dismiss McCabe's case against DOJ Democrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate MORE, a vocal Trump critic, on Sunday called on President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE to take a public stand against racism in a new op-ed, accusing him of stirring up racism for "political benefit."

“America has long had a radioactive racist soup in the center of our national life. Donald Trump thinks he is stirring it for political benefit,” Comey wrote in The New York Times. “He’s actually doing something more dangerous.”

Comey alleged that the gunman who killed 20 people in a shooting in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday was in part inspired by Trump’s comments on Hispanic immigrants. The shooter wrote a manifesto that was reportedly posted online filled with racist comments about Hispanic people.

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“According to a 'manifesto' widely attributed to him, the Texas terrorist who killed at least 20 people in El Paso on Saturday wasn’t directly motivated by Donald Trump. But he is a horrific example of what can happen when the control rods are lifted,” Comey said.

“Every American president, knowing what lies deep within our country, bears a unique responsibility to say loudly and consistently that white supremacy is illegitimate, that encouraging a politics of racial resentment can spawn violence, and that violence aimed at people by virtue of their skin color is terrorism,” he continued.

Comey also criticized Trump for comments that critics have called racist. Comey pointed to U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, whom Trump attacked for his Mexican heritage; his comments about NFL players kneeling during the national anthem and his attacks on four Democratic congresswomen of color, among other incidents.

“With each racist assault — on a judge, an athlete, a country, a member of Congress, or a city — and with each kind word for ‘very fine people on both sides,’ our president allows the stew to boil and radiate more dangerously,” Comey said.

Comey also said Trump “owes” the American people more than “condolences sent via Twitter.” Trump tweeted that the shooting in El Paso was “tragic” and “an act of cowardice” Saturday, and he ordered flags at federal government buildings to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims of the shooting in El Paso and the Sunday shooting in Dayton, Ohio.

“You hold the biggest control rod of all. You must push it back into place, for all our sakes. The vast majority of Americans believe the core ideals of our founding documents and we expect our culture to reflect those ideals. Show us you believe in them, too,” Comey said.

Late last month, Trump was criticized for his comments attacking Rep. Elijah Cummings Elijah Eugene CummingsBlack GOP candidate accuses Behar of wearing black face in heated interview Overnight Health Care: US won't join global coronavirus vaccine initiative | Federal panel lays out initial priorities for COVID-19 vaccine distribution | NIH panel: 'Insufficient data' to show treatment touted by Trump works House Oversight Democrats to subpoena AbbVie in drug pricing probe MORE (D-Md.), who represents parts of Baltimore. Trump called Cummings’s district “a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess" — comments that were widely decried as racist.

Trump also drew ire last month for his attacks on a group of four minority congresswomen: Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline McCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid MORE (D-N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley Ayanna PressleyFauci, Black Lives Matter founders included on Time's 100 Most Influential People list Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' Pressley applauded on House floor after moving speech on living with alopecia MORE (D-Mass.), Ilhan Omar Ilhan OmarOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' Democrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise MORE (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib Rashida Harbi TlaibTrump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' George Conway: 'Trump is like a practical joke that got out of hand' Pelosi endorses Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate primary challenge MORE (D-Mich.). The president repeatedly told the progressive congresswomen to “go back” to where they came from, comments that were also criticized as racist and xenophobic. At a campaign rally in North Carolina, a crowd also chanted “send her back” as Trump attacked Omar, who is Somali American.