Government
Trump Levels Racist Attack on Congresswomen of Color in Latest Social Media Screed
It was clear that Trump was a racist decades ago, but he has made it clear this week beginning with tweets insulting four U.S. Congresswomen of color on Sunday night and increased his rhetoric at a campaign rally in North Carolina on Wednesday.
The four targeted Democratic congresswomen spoke out in a press conference on Monday night, saying that Trump’s attacks distracted from bigger, more important issues, including the conditions of migrants being held in federal custody.
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calmly said of the president, “I am not surprised that he uses the rhetoric he does, but I also know that we are focused.
“Weak minds and leaders challenge loyalty to our country in order to avoid challenging and debating the policy,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “This president does not know how to make the argument that Americans do not deserve health care. He does not know how to defend his policies, so he’s attacking us personally.”
“Do not take the bait,” said Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. “This is simply a disruption and a distraction from the callous, chaotic and corrupt culture of this administration… This is a disruptive distraction from the issues of care, concern and consequence to the American people that we were sent here with a decisive mandate from our constituents to work on.”
She concluded saying “Our squad is big,” meaning, the “squad” is everyone who is against his racist rhetoric.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan said “I represent the third-poorest district in the country, one that is made up of working people, who continue to be targeted and harmed by the actions and rhetoric of this administration.”
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar delivered the most blistering rebuke of Trump, “This is a president who has overseen the most corrupt administration in our history and pursued an agenda to allow millions of Americans to die from a lack of health care while he transfers millions of dollars in tax cuts to corporations.”
She called out the president for his language in references to women, Black athletes and Third World countries. “… This is a president who has equated neo-Nazis with those who protest against them in Charlottesville.” She also added, “This is the agenda of white nationalists. … This is his plan to pit us against one another.”
Rep. Barbara Lee also spoke out. “Trump’s comments attacking my colleagues are not isolated – they are par for the course for a president known for his hateful and divisive agenda,” Lee said. “I stand with my colleagues in Congress and across the country – we will not be bullied by white nationalist agenda.”
Trump dug in his heels on Tuesday, prompting members of the House to officially rebuke him for his comments by a 240-187 vote with four Republicans breaking rank and siding with the Democrats.
The four-page Democratic resolution said the House “strongly condemns President Donald Trump’s racist comments that have legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color.” It said Trump’s slights “do not belong in Congress or in the United States of America.”
Trump’s apparent racism prompted Texas Rep. Al Green to call for impeachment but the action was tabled.
At Trump’s North Carolina rally on Wednesday, crowds chanted “send her back, send her back” referring particularly to Omar.
House Democrats erupted in fury, fearful that the chants that Trump did not try to defuse, will result in danger for Omar and her family and call for hers and the other women attacked by Trump have their security services re-evaluated.
“It’s crystal clear to me that her life is in imminent danger,” said Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), a senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus. “He has threatened the safety of a member of Congress. That takes this to a whole different level.”
Politico and the Huffington Post contributed to this report.
