feces, can't take a shower come on, man >> reporter: now in a series of at least 20 tweets, the president is attacking not just the african-american lawmaker and the majority african-american city, but the african-american civil rights activist al sharpton who criticized the remarks describing sharpton as a con man and a troublemaker >> i make trouble every time racists and bigots move around in any way, shape or form, including the president. >> reporter: the president's defenders insist he's not racially motivated but fighting back against a congressional antagonist on the campaign trail, candidate trump lookedor >> what do you have to lose? >> reporter: today, some in baltimore suggest he hasn't stepped up >> i think it was idiotic. i think it was hurtful i think it was bigoted >> i think he is a racist. not only his tweets, but i think he has some issues as it relates