Bernice King, the daughter of legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., has publicly rebuked former US President Donald Trump for comparing himself to her father. The remarks came as Trump faces renewed scrutiny over his past associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a scathing social media post, King condemned Trump's attempt to draw parallels between his legal troubles and the systemic oppression faced by MLK during the civil rights movement. "The challenges my father faced were about fighting racial injustice, not about evading accountability," she wrote.
Trump's Controversial Remarks
The former president recently suggested that he, like MLK, was being unfairly targeted by law enforcement. This comparison has sparked outrage among civil rights advocates and historians alike.
Legal experts note that Trump's reference to King appears particularly tone-deaf given the ongoing release of court documents related to Epstein's network of powerful associates. While Trump hasn't been directly implicated in Epstein's crimes, their past social connections continue to draw attention.
Historical Context
Martin Luther King Jr. was subjected to FBI surveillance and repeated arrests during his nonviolent campaign for racial equality in the 1950s and 60s. Historians emphasise that these government actions were explicitly aimed at suppressing the civil rights movement.
Bernice King's intervention highlights what many see as a profound difference between her father's moral leadership and Trump's current legal predicaments. The comparison has reignited discussions about how public figures invoke civil rights history for personal defence.
