President Donald Trump on Thursday
called the attack on out actor Jussie Smollett “horrible.”
Smollett, who is black and came out gay
in 2015, was attacked early Tuesday morning by two men wearing masks
in downtown Chicago. The men hurled racial and homophobic slurs and
told Smollett that he was in “MAGA country.”
(Related: Jussie
Smollett at home recovering after possible anti-gay hate crime.)
Smollett, 36, plays Jamal Lyon, a gay
character, on the Fox drama Empire.
Speaking with reporters in the Oval
Office, Trump was asked about the attack.
“That I can tell you is horrible,”
Trump answered. “It doesn't get worse.”
Smollett has said that he was speaking
on the phone with his manager when the attack happened.
(Related: Adam
Lambert, Viola Davis, Janet Jackson send messages of support to
Jussie Smollett.)