Sen. Ed Markey calls Trump 'scum' in pointed tweet on 'fueling racist hate and violence in our country'

• US Sen. Ed Markey, called President Donald Trump "scum" in a tweet on Monday.
• "Donald trump is scum for fueling racist hate and violence in our country," the Democratic Massachusetts senator tweeted.
• The 73-year-old senator issued one of the harshest condemnations of any sitting federal lawmaker after Trump called on governors to "dominate" protesters and let police use more force in a conference call earlier in the day.
• Markey is facing a primary challenge from Rep. Joe Kennedy, a fellow Bay State Democrat.

US Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts issued a firm rebuke to President Trump on Twitter Monday afternoon.

"Donald trump is scum for fueling racist hate and violence in our country," Markey, a 73-year-old Democrat, tweeted.

Earlier on Monday, Trump called governors "a bunch of jerks" and "most of you are weak" during a conference call where he called for them to "dominate" protesters and let police use more force.

Protests against police violence in the wake of George Floyd's death grew over the weekend, leading to at least seven people being shot and killed in the past few days.

Markey called Trump "scum" just a few hours after the audio was obtained by Insider and other news outlets.

The comment is perhaps one of the harshest rebukes a sitting senator has issued to President Trump thus far.

Several of the top replies to Markey's tweet linked to fundraising pages for his campaign, with the senator facing an upcoming primary challenge from Rep. Joe Kennedy, a fellow Bay State Democrat.