When Man Hauls Out Tired Welfare-Queen Trope, Joy Reid Responds with Brilliant Come Back

Journalist Joy Reid placed a Donald Trump supporter in her cross hairs when he claimed underprivileged Americans are unproductive.

The back-and-forth occurred on Twitter Sunday, Feb. 19 when the MSNBC correspondent discussed what Jesus meant when he called for society to be compassionate.

Jesus talks about the poor (and sick, widow & orphan) as a collective, not as individual characters. Why address their helpers differently?

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) February 19, 2017

One user responded to Reid by blaming conservatives for the idea that Jesus called out non-white, unwealthy individuals rather than society as a whole.

@JoyAnnReid the conservative coopted Jesus is an angry vengeful gun toter itching to attack difference and the poor because they are lazy.

— MMcConnell (@mattlogical) February 19, 2017

The reply led a Trump backer named Sam to say Jesus urged individuals to work hard for their earnings.

@mattlogical @JoyAnnReid the biblical Jesus did teach a man should work for his keep and not to be idle

— Sam (@marino2duper) February 19, 2017

Reid questioned Sam’s thought process …

And who among the poor are idle? They stand on their feet all day, picking your food, cleaning our hotels, shoveling our crap. Get real. https://t.co/y5Ut1wbiPb

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) February 19, 2017

… and he retorted with a welfare queen excuse, which is a myth stating Black women defraud the government to gain income.

@JoyAnnReid I have no problem with those poor it’s the ones that have 5 kids from different dads and Welch off govt

— Sam (@marino2duper) February 19, 2017

Reid pointed out Trump’s so-called welfare queen-like behaviors, showing that he fits the stereotype of a financially unstable parent with several children.

Your president has kids from three different moms, took five bankruptcies and hasn’t paid taxes in approximately 19 years. Thoughts? https://t.co/O9pDCWMA1h

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) February 19, 2017

The tweet set off a chain of replies discussing Trump’s money woes and the negative way he treated employees.

@JoyAnnReid @SalMasekela And how many people has he cheated? Look at all the lawsuits filed against him for that.

— KarenLMcHalePhoto (@KarenLMcHale) February 20, 2017

@KarenLMcHale @JoyAnnReid @SalMasekela just paid out $26 million for defrauding American citizens via Trump University

— Tony Laughlin (@efi2nr) February 20, 2017

@JoyAnnReid @marino2duper AND many who worked for dT – needing jobs to feed families were never paid. Hence hundreds of lawsuits.

— Wendy (@perfectrose2011) February 19, 2017

One responder referred to the thousands of lawsuits Trump faced during his campaign, likely referring to a USA Today report in June about the 3,500 legal actions taken by and against the now-president.

@perfectrose2011 @JoyAnnReid @marino2duper I read the other day, 2500 lawsuits against him right now!!

— Vickie Bathe (@VickieBathe1) February 19, 2017