Trump Tells Congresswomen of Color to 'Go Back' to the Countries They Came From
On Sunday, President Donald Trump, who has recently been in the headlines for his alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein, took to Twitter to share his thoughts on a group of freshman congresswomen known as "the squad." In a series of racially charged tweets sent in quick succession, Trump suggested that the women "go back" to the countries "from which they came."
"So interesting to see 'Progressive' Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run," Trump wrote across a three-tweet thread. "Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came...Then come back and show us how it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!"
Though Trump's tweets did not call out any of the congresswomen by name, several outlets reported that they were likely aimed at congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ayanna S. Pressley of Massachusetts. It should be noted that in no capacity does it matter where any of the women were born: They are all United States citizens. Omar is also the only one of the group born outside of the U.S.—she was born in Somalia.
The women, the Times noted, are currently at odds with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In a July 10 interview with The Washington Post, Ocasio-Cortez said she believes Pelosi singles out women of color in an attempt to isolate them and their beliefs.
“When these comments first started, I kind of thought that she was keeping the progressive flank at more of an arm’s distance in order to protect more moderate members, which I understood,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “But the persistent singling out . . . it got to a point where it was just outright disrespectful . . . the explicit singling out of newly elected women of color.”
Pelosi herself was quick to jump to the congresswomen's defense on Sunday, writing in a tweet, "When @realDonaldTrump tells four American Congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to 'Make America Great Again' has always been about making America white again. Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power."
In a follow-up tweet, Pelosi added, "I reject @realDonaldTrump’s xenophobic comments meant to divide our nation. Rather than attack Members of Congress, he should work with us for humane immigration policy that reflects American values. Stop the raids."
The women Trump seemed to be targeting quickly responded. Tlaib was among the first: "Want a response to a lawless & complete failure of a President?" she asked. "He is the crisis. His dangerous ideology is the crisis. He needs to be impeached."
"Yo @realDonaldTrump, I am fighting corruption in OUR country," she wrote in a second tweet. "I do it every day when I hold your admin accountable as a U.S. Congresswoman. Detroit taught me how to fight for the communities you continue to degrade & attack. Keep talking, you’ll be out of the WH soon. #TickTock"
Omar also spoke out: "Mr. President, As Members of Congress, the only country we swear an oath to is the United States," she wrote. "Which is why we are fighting to protect it from the worst, most corrupt and inept president we have ever seen. You are stoking white nationalism bc you are angry that people like us are serving in Congress and fighting against your hate-filled agenda."
She ended with a quote from Robert F. Kennedy: "'America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired.' -RFK."
Pressley didn't hold back, either: "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," she tweeted.
Ocasio-Cortez also powerfully replied to the President's remarks, tweeting, "Mr. President, the country I 'come from,' & the country we all swear to, is the United States. But given how you’ve destroyed our border with inhumane camps, all at a benefit to you & the corps who profit off them, you are absolutely right about the corruption laid at your feet."
She added in a series of follow-ups, "You are angry because you don’t believe in an America where I represent New York 14, where the good people of Minnesota elected @IlhanMN, where @RashidaTlaib fights for Michigan families, where @AyannaPressley champions little girls in Boston. You are angry because you can’t conceive of an America that includes us. You rely on a frightened America for your plunder. You won’t accept a nation that sees healthcare as a right or education as a #1 priority, especially where we’re the ones fighting for it." She added, "Yet here we are."
"But you know what’s the rub of it all, Mr. President? On top of not accepting an America that elected us, you cannot accept that we don’t fear you,either," Ocasio-Cortez wrote. "You can’t accept that we will call your bluff & offer a positive vision for this country. And that’s what makes you seethe."
Originally Appeared on Glamour
