#WeAreBaltimore Trends, Thousands Stand With Cummings After Trump Calls His District 'Disgusting Rat and Rodent Infested'

After President Donald Trump attacked Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings and his hometown district of Baltimore Saturday morning, the hashtag #WeAreBaltimore began trending on Twitter, with thousands of users defending the city that the president declared a "disgusting rat and rodent infested mess."

In a series of tweets on Saturday morning, Trump called Cummings "a brutal bully, shouting and screaming at the great men & women of Border Patrol about conditions at the Southern Border," before then harshly attacking the lawmaker's district. The president's tweets came after the lawmaker, who's chair of the House Oversight Committee and one of Trump's loudest critics, called the treatment of migrant children near the southern U.S.-Mexico border "government-sponsored child abuse."

"His Baltimore district is FAR WORSE and more dangerous. His district is considered the Worst in the USA," the president said. "Cumming['s] District is a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess. If he spent more time in Baltimore, maybe he could help clean up this very dangerous & filthy place."

Cummings and Democratic leaders quickly moved to condemn Trump's remarks on Saturday afternoon, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling it a "racist" attack.

"Mr. President, I go home to my district daily. Each morning, I wake up, and I go and fight for my neighbors," Cummings tweeted in response. "It is my constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. But, it is my moral duty to fight for my constituents."

Despite mounting criticisms, Trump doubled down on his remarks later in the day by posting another tweet calling Baltimore a "very dangerous and very badly run district."

Following Trump's rant, social media users stood with Cummings in defending Baltimore by using the hashtag #WeAreBaltimore. On Saturday evening, the hashtag became the second-most trending term on U.S. Twitter.

"When I moved to the USA from Switzerland 23 years ago, I settled in #Baltimore and lived there for 4 years. The city has so much more to offer than people think. #WeAreBaltimore," Twitter user @Corinne4Hillary wrote.

"Your comments are based in ignorance and racism @realDonaldTrump #WeAreBaltimore," Twitter user @lexdraws wrote, alongside images of the streets of Baltimore.

"National and local hero, @RepCummings - this is a photo I will always save because it is such a honor to know him. #WeAreBaltimore," state delegate Brooke Lierman tweeted, alongside a photo of her with Cummings.

"Live in Georgia, but today #WeAreBaltimore," Twitter user @munn_dayle wrote.

"#WEAREBALTIMORE. We stand with you against the racist in the WH. And Rep Cummings is a GREAT, GREAT man, a true patriot," Twitter user @kapeman wrote.

Other people used the hashtag to condemn or ridicule Trump's remarks.

"Speaking of 'Rat infested messes' in Washington... #WeAreBaltimore," Twitter user @PaulLeeTicks tweeted, alongside a short video of Trump.

"@realDonaldTrump If you don't want to represent ALL of us, then just resign and don't let the door hit you on the way out. #WEAREBALTIMORE," Twitter user @RogueChihuahua wrote.

"Trump praises North Korea and salutes their generals while insulting US citizens and entire cities. What a treasonous pile of shit. #WeAreBaltimore," Alex Cole, founder of Newsitics, tweeted.

"'You may shoot me with your words,' 'You may cut me with your eyes,' 'You may kill me with your hatefulness,' 'But still, like air, I'll rise.' - Maya Angelou #WeAreBaltimore," Janet Shan, editor of the Hinterland Gazette, tweeted. Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar tweeted the same quote in response to Trump's racist attacks against her and three other freshman lawmakers earlier this month.

"We will forever have the stain of this so called President. His crimes. His White Supremacist policies. His mess of everything he touches. FOREVER as part of American History #WeAreBaltimore," writer and actor Mara McEwin tweeted.

"I have to say I'm noticing more people getting sick of Trump's Racism we're all with you Baltimore #WeAreBaltimore," Twitter user @TonyWestside088 wrote.

"I think it's fairly clear there's an infestation in the Oval Office. #WeAreBaltimore," Charlotte Clymer, who works for the Human Rights Campaign, tweeted.