House Democrats introduce resolution condemning Trump for 'racist' comments

By Cristina Marcos and Justin Wise - 07/15/19 08:27 PM EDT
 
House Democrats plan to vote on a resolution that explicitly condemns President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act MORE's tweets, in which he called for four progressive congresswomen to "go back" to other countries, as racist.
 
 
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The text of the resolution, which is sponsored by freshman Rep. Tom MalinowskiThomas (Tom) MalinowskiDCCC reserves new ad buys in competitive districts, adds new members to 'Red to Blue' program The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - First lady casts Trump as fighter for the 'forgotten' Hillicon Valley: Lawmakers introduce resolution condemning QAnon | US Cyber Command leader vows to 'defend forward' in protecting nation from cyberattacks MORE (D-N.J.), obtained by The Hill "strongly condemns President Donald Trump’s racist comments that have legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color by saying that our fellow Americans who are immigrants, and those who may look to the President like immigrants, should 'go back' to other countries." 
 
The resolution also states that the House "believes that immigrants and their descendants have made America stronger, and that those who take the oath of citizenship are every bit as American as those whose families have lived in the United States for many generations" and "is committed to keeping America open to those lawfully seeking refuge and asylum from violence and oppression, and those who are willing to work hard to live the American Dream, no matter their race, ethnicity, faith, or country of origin."

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election Will Democrats attempt to pack the Supreme Court again? MORE (D-Calif.) announced the resolution from Malinowski, who is white but was born in Poland, earlier Monday in response to the tweets from Trump.

“This weekend, the president went beyond his own low standards using disgraceful language about Members of Congress,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to colleagues. “The House cannot allow the president’s characterization of immigrants to our country to stand.”

In a series of tweets on Sunday aimed at the four progressive freshman women — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezWill Democrats attempt to pack the Supreme Court again? On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline McCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins MORE (D-N.Y.), Ayanna PressleyAyanna PressleyEnding the Hyde Amendment is no longer on the backburner Fauci, Black Lives Matter founders included on Time's 100 Most Influential People list Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' MORE (D-Mass.), Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarOmar urges Democrats to focus on nonvoters over 'disaffected Trump voters' Omar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' MORE (D-Minn.) and Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibTrump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' George Conway: 'Trump is like a practical joke that got out of hand' Pelosi endorses Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate primary challenge MORE (D-Mich.) — Trump wrote that they should "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places 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 tweeted.
 
Omar, who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia, is the only one among the four who was born in a foreign country.

When asked Monday if he was concerned his tweets were considered racist and praised by white nationalists, Trump said, "Not at all."

"If somebody has a problem with our country, if somebody doesn’t want to be in our country, they should leave," Trump said. 

Malinowski earlier Monday said he hoped the resolution would pass on a bipartisan basis.

"I think this is going to be an opportunity for, hopefully, all of us on a bipartisan basis to say that even if we may disagree on the details of immigration or border policy, racism is wrong, is un-American. It's not who we are," Malinowski told The Hill. 

But it's unclear how much bipartisan support the resolution will attract given that it explicitly calls Trump's tweets racist. 

Two House Republicans — Reps. Will HurdWilliam Ballard HurdHillicon Valley: Oracle confirms deal with TikTok to be 'trusted technology provider' | QAnon spreads across globe, shadowing COVID-19 | VA hit by data breach impacting 46,000 veterans House approves bill to secure internet-connected federal devices against cyber threats House Democrats' campaign arm reserves .6M in ads in competitive districts MORE (Texas) and Michael Turner (Ohio) — explicitly called Trump's tweets racist in statements on Monday. But most GOP lawmakers have declined to go as far, even if they pushed back against the comments.

A number of Republicans in the House and Senate began speaking out against Trump's tweets on Monday after largely staying silent on Sunday. 

Some Democrats want to go further than the resolution endorsed by Democratic leaders. Later Monday, liberal Rep. Steve CohenStephen (Steve) Ira CohenTennessee Rep. Steve Cohen wins Democratic primary Democrats exit briefing saying they fear elections under foreign threat Texas Democrat proposes legislation requiring masks in federal facilities MORE (D-Tenn.) introduced a resolution that would formally censure Trump. 

“People need to understand that the President has crossed a red line in his chaotic commentary. Congress must censure him for this un-American and un-Presidential language,” Cohen said in a statement. 
 
Cohen’s resolution has nine cosponsors, including Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib and Pressley, according to his office. 

Juliegrace Brufke contributed to this report.

Tags Tom Malinowski Donald Trump Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Ayanna Pressley Rashida Tlaib Nancy Pelosi Mike Turner Ilhan Omar Will Hurd Steve Cohen Steny Hoyer