CNN political analyst April Ryan suggested this week that racism could be behind President Trump’s alleged wish to drop nuclear bombs on hurricanes to stop them from hitting the United States.

Responding to an Axios report, which Mr. Trump has denied, Ms. Ryan questioned why the president would be so eager to drop bombs near Africa.

“What part of Africa are you talking about?” Ms. Ryan said during Monday’s “New Day” program in a clip flagged by Newsbusters.

“Sub-Saharan Africa, where there are mostly black people? This is just crazy. There is a ripple effect that could happen for land, sea, for people, if he did something like this. For this man to think this. This is the leader of the free world,” she said.

Ms. Ryan went on to say that Mr. Trump is treating his presidency like a “joke.”

The Axios report cited anonymous sources as saying Mr. Trump had, on numerous occasions, suggested to senior security officials that they explore nuking hurricanes.

“During one hurricane briefing at the White House, Trump said, ‘I got it. I got it. Why don’t we nuke them?’ according to one source who was there,” Axios reported. “‘They start forming off the coast of Africa, as they’re moving across the Atlantic, we drop a bomb inside the eye of the hurricane and it disrupts it. Why can’t we do that?’ the source added, paraphrasing the president’s remarks.”



Mr. Trump has labeled the story “fake news” and a “ridiculous” effort to embarrass him ahead of the 2020 election.

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