President Donald Trump defended his racist Twitter tirade against four Congresswomen of color, saying on Monday that it is the freshmen lawmakers who need to apologize for their “foul language & racist hatred.”

“When will the Radical Left Congresswomen apologize to our Country, the people of Israel and even to the Office of the President, for the foul language they have used, and the terrible things they have said,” Trump added on Twitter. “So many people are angry at them & their horrible & disgusting actions!”

On Sunday, Trump issued a thread of xenophobic tweets calling on Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) to “go back” to where they came from, adding that the lawmakers “originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world.”

Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley, and Tlaib were all born in the U.S. Omar was born in Somalia and came to the U.S. with her family as a refugee in the 1990s. She became a citizen in 2000 at age 17.

In response, Omar slammed Trump for “stoking white nationalism,” adding that she would continue to fight against the administration's “hate-filled agenda” and protect the U.S. from the “the worst, most corrupt and inept president we have ever seen.”

Pressley also responded to the post, saying “THIS is what racism looks like. WE are what democracy looks like. And we’re not going anywhere. Except back to DC to fight for the families you marginalize and vilify everyday.”

Tlaib told Trump to “keep talking, you just make me work harder. I'm proud of my Palestinian roots & a WEAK bully like you never wins. This is what America looks like.”

Republicans were slow to condemn the president's remarks with party leadership largely avoiding the issue. By Monday afternoon, some GOP lawmakers did speak out, inlcuding Texas Rep. Will Hurd, who told CNN the tweets were "racist and xenophobic," as well as, Ohio Rep. Mike Turner, who said the comments were racist and urged Trump to apologize. "We must work as a country to rise above hate, not enable it," Turner wrote on Twitter.

Yet Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) — who was a harsh critic of Trump in 2016 and has since become one of his most ardent supporters — refused to condemn the president on Fox Monday morning, instead saying on Fox that “we all know that [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] and this crowd are a bunch of communists, they hate Israel, they hate our own country.”

Meanwhile, Democrats across the party have criticized Trump for fanning racial resentment and defend their colleagues.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) condemned the “xenophobic comments” and said that Trump’s tweets “reaffirms his plan to 'Make America Great Again' has always been about making America white again.” On Monday, Pelosi also announced that she would bring forth a resolution in the House to formally reject the president's comments. "Let me be clear, our Caucus will continue to forcefully respond to these disgusting attacks," she said in a statment.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, called Trump a “racial arsonist” and told the president to “Shut. Your. Reckless. Mouth.”

“So sad to see the Democrats sticking up for people who speak so badly of our Country and who, in addition, hate Israel with a true and unbridled passion,” Trump said on Monday

Trump attacked the Congresswomen — dubbed “the squad” — amid public tension between the progressive women and party leadership over priorities and tactics for passing legislation. In his original Tweet on Sunday, Trump fueled the infighting in the Democratic party, saying that “I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!”

Trump’s remarks have also been condemned by civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the ACLU.

“America deserves better than a president who spreads vile, racist tropes,” the ACLU said.

Media Matters for America — a progressive media watchdog group — noted that Trump's rant came just 20 minutes after Fox News aired a segement about the four progressive Congresswomen.

Share:
More In Politics
Why U.S. Oil Production Won't Ramp Up Overnight
President Biden announced a ban on Russian oil and natural gas imports to the U.S. in response to its invasion of Ukraine, a move he warned could lead to an even greater surge in gas prices. The ban is prompting a conversation about the current oil production levels in the U.S. and whether or not the industry can ramp up production to soften the blow to American families at the gas pump. Clark Williams-Derry, Energy Finance Analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, breaks down the state of the U.S. oil industry and how the ban might impact production levels here at home.
What Biden's Ban on Russian Oil Imports Could Mean for Growing Energy Costs
As Russia intensifies its war on Ukraine, President Biden announced a ban on oil imported from the aggressor nation. Critics of Russia have said this would be the best way to force Putin to pull back, but curbs on Russian oil exports are expected to send already skyrocketing oil and gas prices even higher, further impacting consumers, businesses, financial markets, and the global economy. Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Energy Workforce and Technology Council, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. "It's certainly going to increase pricing, but it is the right thing to do," she said. "The industry itself has already pulled out of the significant portion of its operations in Russia."
Problem Gambling Concerns With Sports Betting On The Rise
Sports Betting in the U.S. is booming. According to industry experts, we could see another boom this year as more states move towards statewide legalization of sports wagering. While this comes as huge news for fans, there are some very real concerns as to whether or not sports betting potentially poses a threat to public health. Senior Clinician at the Caron Treatment Centers, Eric Webber, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
White House Gender Policy Council Marks One-Year Anniversary
The Biden administration has made gender policy a core part of how it governs. The president established the first Gender Policy Council. It's on the same level as the National Security Council, Domestic Policy Council and National Economic Council, putting the interests of women and other underserved groups at the table for the most important policy discussions. Cheddar News sat down with Jennifer Klein, executive director and co-chair of the White House Gender Policy Council, to discuss the council's work and its significance during Women's History Month.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Advocates For Climate-Smart Practices
The United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack joins None of the Above to discuss the newly emerging conflict in Europe, what it means for agriculture in the states, dairy and meat consumption, and how the department is planning to promote climate-smart agriculture.
Refugees In Ukraine Flee Amid Russian Invasion
Tens of thousands of people have fled Ukraine in attempts to escape the Russian Invasion. According to the U.N. neighboring countries like Poland, Hungary, and even Romania have seen half a million refugees. While the hospitality is being welcomed by many, it also highlights the mistreatment of migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Professor of Philosophy and Director of Politics at Northeastern University Serena Parekh, joined Cheddar, to discuss more.
U.S. and E.U. Announce Sanctions On Russia
As Russia unleashed war in the country of Ukraine, global leaders have started inflicting punishment on Vladimir Putin's regime via commercial and financial penalties. According to President Joe Biden Putin's aggression is "a flagrant violation of international law and it demands a firm response from the international community".However, the main question is will these sanctions actually work. Partner at Jenner & Block LLP, Rachel Alpert, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Load More