Democrat Andrew Gillum is the first black nominee from any major party for governor of Florida. | Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP elections Gillum hits back at Trump after president calls him ‘a thief’

Tallahassee Mayor and Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum hit back at President Donald Trump on Monday, after Trump called Gillum a “thief” in an inflammatory tweet.

“In Florida there is a choice between a Harvard/Yale educated man named @RonDeSantisFL who has been a great Congressman and will be a great Governor - and a Dem who is a thief and who is Mayor of poorly run Tallahassee, said to be one of the most corrupt cities in the Country!” Trump tweeted on Monday morning, without providing any evidence of crimes.


Soon after, Gillum called out Trump on Twitter.

“On Twitter there is a choice between having the courage to @ the person you are trash talking, or not. @realDonaldTrump is howling because he’s weak. Florida, go vote today.”

On Twitter there is a choice between having the courage to @ the person you are trash talking, or not. @realDonaldTrump is howling because he's weak. Florida, go vote today. https://t.co/I8uOokptJA — Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) October 29, 2018

The race for Florida’s governor is one of several nationally watched elections this November. Gillum is the first black nominee from any major party for governor of Florida, and discussions of race and corruption have figured prominently in the election.

Trump’s tweet comes as a federal corruption probe circles Tallahassee, and DeSantis has frequently accused Gillum of improperly receiving gifts while mayor.

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DeSantis has been accused of exploiting coded racist language during his campaign, and Gillum accused Republicans of thinly veiled racist language when tying him to the corruption probe.

DeSantis has also been criticized for failing to disclose all records related to more than $145,000 in taxpayer money he used to fund travel as a congressman, the Naples Daily News reported.