Princeton Professor Calls Trump 'Boil' Representing 'Sickness' in America

Glaude says Trump is an 'avatar' for the country's ongoing racial divisions.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a segment on MS NOW's 'Deadline,' Princeton University professor and network contributor Eddie Glaude, Jr. criticized former President Donald Trump, calling him a 'boil that represents the sickness' in America. Glaude argued that Trump is an 'avatar' for the country's ongoing racial divisions, noting that he was elected twice 'knowing who he was.'

Why it matters

Glaude's comments reflect the deep divisions and racial tensions that have persisted in the U.S., even after Trump's presidency. His remarks underscore the challenges the country faces in addressing systemic racism and the role that political leaders can play in either exacerbating or healing those divisions.

The details

During the segment, Glaude discussed a recently deleted social media post that included caricatures of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Glaude argued that while there is 'counter-programming' to such content, it represents a 'sickness under the skin that hasn't gone away.' He questioned why people would want an 'insincere' apology from Trump, saying 'we know he's a racist' and that the country 'elected him twice' despite this.

  • The segment aired on MS NOW's 'Deadline' on Monday, February 9, 2026.

The players

Eddie Glaude, Jr.

A professor at Princeton University and a contributor to MS NOW.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, whom Glaude criticized as a 'boil that represents the sickness' in America.

Barack Obama

The former President of the United States, whose caricature was featured in the deleted social media post that Glaude discussed.

Michelle Obama

The former First Lady of the United States, whose caricature was featured in the deleted social media post that Glaude discussed.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We know that there's counter programming even if it's terrible. Even if it's horrible, there's counter-programming. And I'm not trying to be negative, you know. But what I'm trying to do is to understand and to remember that people voted for this guy twice, knowing who he was. And he's an avatar. He is, in so many ways, a kind of boil that represents the sickness under the skin that hasn't gone away. That hasn't gone away.”

— Eddie Glaude, Jr., Princeton University Professor (MS NOW)

“Because if he apologizes for it we still know he's a racist. We just don't want to feel like we're racist. But we elected him twice. So part of what I'm thinking we're still in the midst of it. This is category six it isn't category five. This storm is huge.”

— Eddie Glaude, Jr., Princeton University Professor (MS NOW)

The takeaway

Glaude's comments underscore the deep-seated racial divisions and tensions that continue to plague the United States, even after Trump's presidency. His remarks suggest that the country has yet to fully confront and address the 'sickness' of racism that has long been a part of its history and culture.