U.S. Representative David Trone apologized for using a racial slur on Thursday during a congressional budget hearing.
During the hearing, Trone said in part,”So this Republican jigaboo that it’s the tax rate that’s stopping business investment, it’s just completely faulty by people who have never run a business.”
The term is defined as “an insulting and contemptuous term for a black person” by Merriam-Webster.
Trone said in a statement Friday, “Yesterday, while attempting to use the economic term ‘bugaboo’ in a hearing, I used a phrase that is offensive. That word has a long dark terrible history. It should never be used any time, anywhere, in any conversation and I apologize. I recognize that as a white man, I have privilege. And as an elected official, I have a responsibility for the words I use. Regardless of what meant to say, I shouldn’t have used tat language and I’m deeply sorry.”
Yesterday, while attempting to use the economic term ‘bugaboo’ in a hearing, I used a word that should never be used any time, anywhere, in any conversation.
Regardless of what I meant to say, I shouldn’t have used that language and I'm deeply sorry. https://t.co/6iTRpYwfwL pic.twitter.com/nhaCFWRKQv
— David Trone (@davidjtrone) March 22, 2024
Trone, 68, is running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Ben Cardin who is retiring. Trone is running against fellow Democrat Angela Alsobrooks in the Democratic Primary on May 14. The winner is likely to face Republican Larry Hogan, the former Maryland governor, in the general election.
