Donald Trump launched fresh attacks on black political opponents this week, labeling civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton “a con man” who “Hates Whites & Cops”. It follows comments he made on Sunday about Congressman Elijah Cummings, an African-American Democrat who represents Baltimore, describing the city as a “rodent-infested” place where “no human being would want to live”. Washington correspondent Suzanne Lynch reports on the controversy, which comes after the president told four non-white female members of congress to “go back” to the countries they came from earlier this month. Is it all part of a plan, and if so, is it working?

Plus: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has spoken to British prime minister Boris Johnson for the first time since his appointment, in a phone call described as “warm” by both Dublin and London. Denis Staunton is on the line to assess Johnson’s first week in the job.