Nikki Haley criticises Donald Trump for attacks on Democratic Congressman

The former US ambassador to the UN called Mr Trump’s tweet mocking Elijah Cummings house robbery “unnecessary”

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has criticised Donald Trump for his Twitter tirade against a Democratic Congressman. AFP 

At least two Republicans, one congressman and a former US Ambassador, have come out publicly on Friday and criticised Donald Trump over his tweet about the robbery of Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings’ house in Baltimore.

Mr Cummings, who is also the chairman of the House Oversight committee, was the victim of a house robbery according to the Baltimore police on Friday.

“The burglary occurred around 3.40am at his Baltimore home in the 2000 block of Madison Avenue,” CBS reported.

US President Donald Trump who attacked Mr Cummings' majority-black district last week as "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess," took to twitter again this morning to mock the robbery.

“Really bad news! The Baltimore house of Elijah Cummings was robbed. Too bad!”, Mr Trump tweeted:

But Mr Trump’s words were met with criticism from big names inside his own party. Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and former Ambassador to the United Nations, responded to her former boss on twitter with “This is so unnecessary” followed by a eye roll emoji.

Ms Haley who enjoys a celebrity status within the Republican Party and whose name has been floated to possibly challenger Mr Trump for the nomination of his party in 2020, drew sharp rebuke from the White House.

"THIS is so unnecessary ... Trump-PENCE2020”, White House Counselor Kellyane Conway tweeted in response to Ms Haley.

But Ms Haley was not the only voice criticising Mr Trump from the Republican side.

Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a former veteran, addressed Mr Trump directly on twitter. “This is so beneath the office you hold. It’s childish, and yet it’s getting really old…” he said.

Others including Republican Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan had called Mr Trump's tweets "outrageous and inappropriate" last week.  Former Republican Governor of Ohio John Kasich told the Washington Post that "there is a culture of silence in the [Republican] party."

“I guess they just want to gulp and get through to tomorrow.”

The attacks on Mr Cummings come as Will Hurd, the only African American Republican in the House of Representatives, announced on Thursday that he will not seek reelection in Texas in 2020.