GOP says Rep. Joaquin Castro is "inciting violence" by publicly naming big Texan Trump donors

Rep. Joaquin Castro. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), the manager of the Democratic presidential campaign of twin brother Julián Castro, dismissed calls from the Trump campaign and other Republicans Tuesday to delete a tweet identifying some of President Trump’s biggest Texas donors.

Why it matters: Castro posted the names and occupations of 44 Trump donors from San Antonio ahead of the president's planned visit Wednesday to El Paso following Saturday's mass shooting there.

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This is disgusting. Inciting violence against private citizens for participating in our Democracy is beyond the pale. Your rabid hatred of @realDonaldTrump has made you deranged. https://t.co/vwj9a6EDiT

— NRCC (@NRCC) August 6, 2019

Context: A racist post attributed to the suspected gunman speaks of "invasion." That word was used in Trump campaign Facebook ads approximately 2,200 times, according to CNN data analysis — a point Castro picked up on as he defended his Monday night tweet.

• The writer of the anti-immigrant screed said his opinions pre-date Trump's presidency.

Donald Trump has put a target on the back of millions. And you’re too cowardly or agreeable to say anything about it.

How about I stop mentioning Trump’s public campaign donors and he stops using their money for ads that fuel hate?

— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) August 7, 2019

The big picture: Anyone who donates over $200 to campaigns must report to the Federal Election Commission.

• The Washington Examiner notes that while such donors' names can be found via the FEC, some Republicans criticized Castro because his tweet seems to target specific local citizens of his own congressional district.

I would love to have a conversation with @Twitter and @Facebook about how I use their platforms versus how the President uses them. https://t.co/R6hAbQxQne

— Joaquin Castro (@Castro4Congress) August 6, 2019

What he's saying: President Trump Wednesday by tweeting, "I don’t know who Joaquin Castro is other than the lesser brother of a failed presidential candidate (1%) who makes a fool of himself every time he opens his mouth."

"Joaquin is not the man that his brother is, but his brother, according to most, is not much. Keep fighting Joaquin!"

Editor's note: This article has been updated with Trump's comments.