New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez Robert (Bob) MenendezKasie Hunt to host lead-in show for MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' Senators ask for removal of tariffs on EU food, wine, spirits: report VOA visa decision could hobble Venezuela coverage MORE (D) on Monday argued that 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's criticism of NBA star LeBron James and CNN's Don Lemon was racially motivated.

Menendez wrote in a series of tweets that Trump's attacks on African-Americans were "heartbreaking," listing past events in which the president has been accused of racism or making offensive remarks.

His commentary follows Trump's weekend tweet referring to Lemon as "the dumbest man on television" and saying he had made James look smart during an interview, which according to Trump "isn't easy to do."

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"Let's just say it - if LeBron James was white, President Trump never would have questioned his intelligence or his charity work. How do I know? Let's check the history..." Menendez tweeted.

Let's just say it - if LeBron James was white, President Trump never would have questioned his intelligence or his charity work. How do I know? Let's check the history... — Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) August 6, 2018

"Trump's attacks on [Rep. Maxine Waters Maxine Moore WatersPowell, Mnuchin stress limits of current emergency lending programs Pelosi: House will stay in session until agreement is reached on coronavirus relief Omar invokes father's death from coronavirus in reaction to Woodward book MORE (D-Calif.)] follow a troubling pattern of white supremacists suggesting people of color have lower IQs than whites," the senator continued. Trump often refers to Waters as a "low IQ person" at his rallies.

"He couldn’t believe President Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaObama warns of a 'decade of unfair, partisan gerrymandering' in call to look at down-ballot races Quinnipiac polls show Trump leading Biden in Texas, deadlocked race in Ohio Poll: Trump opens up 6-point lead over Biden in Iowa MORE could have possibly been accepted at Harvard and Columbia," Menendez continued. "He even suggested Obama release records to prove he was smart enough."

"And of course, he refused to condemn the KKK or disavow the endorsement of David Duke during the 2016 campaign," Menendez added in another tweet. Trump disavowed the former Ku Klux Klan leader's endorsement in February 2016 after initially appearing to avoid discussing it.

"Our President’s history on this issue is heartbreaking, maddening, and disgusting. But my commitment to racial justice will never waiver, and I urge my colleagues to stand strong as well," the senator concluded.

Our President’s history on this issue is heartbreaking, maddening, and disgusting. But my commitment to racial justice will never waiver, and I urge my colleagues to stand strong as well. — Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) August 6, 2018

Lemon responded to Trump on his program Monday night and also accused the president of trafficking in "racism" and "bullying."

“Referring to African-Americans as dumb is one of the oldest canards of America’s racist past and present: That black people are of inferior intelligence," Lemon said Monday night.

"This president constantly denigrates people of color — and women," he added.