WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives voted to condemn comments President Donald Trump made over the weekend telling four liberal Democratic congresswomen of color that they should "go back" to the countries they came from.
The resolution passed Tuesday afternoon along a mostly party-line vote of 240-187. Several Republican lawmakers had denied Trump is a racist and urged their colleagues to oppose the Democratic measure, according to The Associated Press.
The resolution said the House "strongly condemns" Trump's "racist comments that have legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color."
House votes, over GOP opposition, to condemn Trump's "racist comments" against Democratic congresswomen of color. https://t.co/ow6IjvkRGa
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 16, 2019
>> Jamie Dupree: House condemns Trump remarks amid parliamentary floor tussle
Original report: The proposal condemns "President Donald Trump's racist comments," which "have legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color," according to the resolution. It was introduced Monday night by Polish-born Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD).
Here's the link to the House resolution condemning President Trump's Sunday tweets - vote on Tuesday https://t.co/DmnGanU3S3 pic.twitter.com/Q2v9lgeH1X
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) July 16, 2019
Trump set off a firestorm Sunday when he wrote in a series of tweets that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) should go back to the "totally broken and crime infested places from which they came." He did not name the congresswomen in his tweets.
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......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019
....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....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019
....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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019
He defended his comments Monday, telling reporters the congresswomen are "very unhappy" and "hate our country."
"I'm watching them – all they do is complain," Trump said. "So, all I'm saying is, if they want to leave, they can leave."
Q: "Does it concern you that many people saw that tweet as racist & that white nationalists groups are finding common cause with you on that point?"
— CSPAN (@cspan) July 15, 2019
President Trump: "It doesn't concern me because many people agree with me and all I'm saying; they want to leave they can leave." pic.twitter.com/Y22gIXJbE4
His comments drew criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who said his words were xenophobic and racist. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the president's Twitter posts made it clear that "his plan to 'Make America Great Again' has always been about making America white again."
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.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 14, 2019
Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power. https://t.co/ODqqHneyES
Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) told CNN on Monday that Trump's comments were "racist and xenophobic" and represented "behavior that's unbecoming of the leader of the free world."
Trump defended his comments again Tuesday, writing in a series of tweets that his comments "were NOT Racist."
"I don't have a Racist bone in my body!" the president wrote.
He added that the scheduled resolution vote "is a Democrat con game" and suggested lawmakers instead turn their focus to "the filthy language, statements and lies told by the Democrat Congresswomen, who I truly believe, based on their actions, hate our Country."
Those Tweets were NOT Racist. I don’t have a Racist bone in my body! The so-called vote to be taken is a Democrat con game. Republicans should not show “weakness” and fall into their trap. This should be a vote on the filthy language, statements and lies told by the Democrat.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2019
.....Congresswomen, who I truly believe, based on their actions, hate our Country. Get a list of the HORRIBLE things they have said. Omar is polling at 8%, Cortez at 21%. Nancy Pelosi tried to push them away, but now they are forever wedded to the Democrat Party. See you in 2020!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2019
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