condemnation after he went even further and likened it to a lynching. trump tweeting at the impeachment inquiry is without due process or fairness or any legal rights as he urged republicans to remember this in the future. but critics said he should remember the past. democrats immediately rebuked the president for invoking the racist history of barbaric white mob murders of black people. >> you knew exactly what he was saying and exactly how it would come across. why would you use the term lynching. why would you say that? >> reporter: members of trump's own party distanced themselves from his words including majority leader mitch mcconnell. >> given the history in our country, i would not compare this to a lynching. that was an unfortunate choice of words. >> reporter: tim scott the only african-american republican senator had this to say. >> there is no question that the impeachment process is the closest thing of a political death row trial.