Trump tells congresswomen to 'go back' to the 'crime infested places from which they came'
President Donald Trump’s opponents accused him of xenophobia and racism Sunday after he posted tweets calling on an unspecified group of Democratic congresswomen to “go back and help fix” the countries he said they “originally came” from before trying to make legislative changes in the USA.
"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.
"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!" the president said in three connected tweets.
Who are the tweets about?
Four liberal freshman congresswomen known as “the Squad” – Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib – presumed Trump's tweets were directed at them. Three of them were born in the USA; Omar came as a refugee from Somalia more than 20 years ago and has been an American citizen since 2000.
"Mr. President, As Members of Congress, the only country we swear an oath to is the United States. Which is why we are fighting to protect it from the worst, most corrupt and inept president we have ever seen," Omar replied to Trump's tweet.
"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," Ocasio-Cortez said.
"Yo @realDonaldTrump, I am fighting corruption in OUR country," Tlaib said in a 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."
"THIS is what racism looks like. WE are what democracy looks like," Pressley said.
Hours later, Trump renewed his criticism without mentioning names, again. He referenced Omar's controversial comments on Israel and their disagreements with House Speaker Nancy Pelos. Without proof, Trump also accused Democrats of speaking negatively about the country.
"If the Democrat Party wants to continue to condone such disgraceful behavior, then we look even more forward to seeing you at the ballot box in 2020!" Trump tweeted.
The four House members have had some public squabbles with Pelosi, for her support for a bill funding border security measures and comments Pelosi made about their disagreements in a New York Times column.
The Democratic infighting was the subject of a "Fox & Friends" segment Sunday that mentioned the four congresswomen by name, which ran shortly before Trump posted his tweets.
Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib and Pressley have been frequent targets by conservative media figures.
Since taking office in January, Omar sparked anger with her rhetoric criticizing the Trump administration and U.S. foreign policy – both past and present. Her remarks about Israel and the influence of the pro-Israeli lobby were condemned as anti-Semitic by both Republicans and Democrats.
Last week, Fox News host Tucker Carlson called Omar "living proof that the way we practice immigration has become dangerous to this country."
Carlson accused her of not being "grateful" for being welcomed into the USA and instead having "undisguised contempt for the United States and for its people."
"I believe as an immigrant, I probably love this country more than anyone that is naturally born," Omar said at a Netroots Nation event Saturday.
Omar said it is because she is "ashamed" that the United States continues to "live in its hypocrisy" that she fights to make it live up to its ideals.
Reaction to Trump's tweets
Pelosi said Sunday that she rejects Trump's "xenophobic comments meant to divide our nation" and said they reaffirm that "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," she said.
"Let’s be clear about what this vile comment is: A racist and xenophobic attack on Democratic congresswomen," tweeted Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., one of two dozen Democrats running to unseat Trump in 2020
"This *is* their country, regardless of whether or not Trump realizes it. They should be treated with respect. As president, I’ll make sure of it," Warren said.
"Unfortunately, there is an American tradition of telling people to go back where they came from," said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, another presidential hopeful, during an interview on CNN's "State of the Union."
The New York mayor tied Trump's tweets to the deportation raids by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency expected to begin this weekend, saying, "It is all one political strategy, to keep people divided to the maximum extent possible" and "gin up his base."
Pelosi also tried to connect the tweets and Trump's immigration policies.
More: Donald Trump defends migrant detention centers, says nothing about ICE raids
"Rather than attack Members of Congress, he should work with us for humane immigration policy that reflects American values. Stop the raids – #FamiliesBelongTogether!" she tweeted.
"Trump’s latest racist tweets echo the bigoted shouts of 'go back where you came from' heard daily by American Muslim women and children, immigrants and members of other minority communities across our nation," said Nihad Awad, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "If Trump shouted the same thing at a Muslim woman wearing hijab in a Walmart, he might be arrested."
"That's a racist tweet," said Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., when he was informed of the president's post during an interview on "Fox News Sunday."
"Telling people to go back where they came from? These are American citizens elected by voters in the United States of America to serve in one of the most distinguished bodies in the U.S. House of Representatives," Luján said
Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., said he has a great deal in common with Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley and Tlaib but noted that he had not been similarly attacked by the president. Boyle, a white male, implied that race or gender might explain the different treatment: "Like some of my Democratic colleagues, I’m young, from an immigrant family, also very critical of Trump. Funny thing though, he never tells me to 'go back where I come from.' Hmm I wonder why?"
Politico reporter Alex Thompson shared a clip of the hosts on "Fox & Friends" laughing in response to Trump tweets, saying Trump was feeling "very comedic today."
Ryan Saavedra, a reporter for the conservative Daily Wire, assumed Trump was referring to Omar and was amused by the president's tweet.
"LOL, Trump is telling Ilhan Omar to go back to Somalia," Saavedra said.
Other voices on social media did not find humor in the president's tweets.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump tells congresswomen to 'go back' to counties they came from