Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Wednesday compared Baltimore's problems to cancer in defending President Donald Trump's attacks on the city and Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md.
"There are problems in Baltimore, and you can't sweep them under the rug," Carson said during a visit to Hollins House, a federally funded housing complex for senior citizens, according to The Washington Post.
"It's sort of like a patient who has cancer: you can dress them up and put a nice suit on and try to ignore it, but that cancer is going to have a devastating effect," he added.
Trump on Tuesday resumed his attacks on Cummings, slamming the lawmaker as being "in charge" of Baltimore – the "most unsafe city in the country."
"People living in Baltimore are real happy that I'm bringing up the fact that it's like living in hell," Trump told reporters on the White House lawn.
"The most unsafe city in the country, in our country is Baltimore," Trump said.
Carson, who was touring the apartment complex when he made the comments, also told reporters he had spoken with Trump in recent days about what can be done to improve Baltimore and he is "very willing" to work with city leaders.
"The president's emphasis is on the people and that certainly is my emphasis," Carson said. "We have to learn to work together and realize we're not each other's enemy."
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