House Democrats introduce resolution condemning Trump for 'racist' comments

By Cristina Marcos and Justin Wise - 07/15/19 08:27 PM EDT
 
 
 
ADVERTISEMENT
The text of the resolution, which is sponsored by freshman Rep. Tom MalinowskiThomas (Tom) MalinowskiHuman Rights Campaign rolls out congressional endorsements on Equality Act anniversary House passes massive T coronavirus relief package Democrats debate how and when to get House back in action 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 PelosiWomen suffering steeper job losses in COVID-19 economy The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Crowds return during Memorial Day weekend Democratic leaders say Trump testing strategy is 'to deny the truth' about lack of supplies 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-CortezOcasio-Cortez posts experience getting antibody tested for COVID-19 The continuous whipsawing of climate change policy Budowsky: United Democrats and Biden's New Deal MORE (D-N.Y.), Ayanna PressleyAyanna PressleyOvernight Defense: Pentagon memo warns pandemic could go until summer 2021 | Watchdog finds Taliban violence is high despite US deal | Progressive Dems demand defense cuts Progressives demand defense budget cuts amid coronavirus pandemic The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by The American Investment Council - Trump takes his 'ready to reopen' mantra on the road MORE (D-Mass.), Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarOvernight Defense: Pentagon memo warns pandemic could go until summer 2021 | Watchdog finds Taliban violence is high despite US deal | Progressive Dems demand defense cuts Progressives demand defense budget cuts amid coronavirus pandemic Ocasio-Cortez endorses progressive Democrat in Georgia congressional primary MORE (D-Minn.) and Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibOvernight Defense: Pentagon memo warns pandemic could go until summer 2021 | Watchdog finds Taliban violence is high despite US deal | Progressive Dems demand defense cuts Progressives demand defense budget cuts amid coronavirus pandemic Overnight Energy: 600K clean energy jobs lost during pandemic, report finds | Democrats target diseases spread by wildlife | Energy Dept. to buy 1M barrels of oil 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 HurdThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump visits a ventilator plant in a battleground state The Hill to interview Mnuchin today and many other speakers The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga says supporting small business single most important thing we should do now; Teva's Brendan O'Grady says U.S. should stockpile strategic reserve in drugs like Strategic Oil Reserve 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 CohenHouse members race to prepare for first-ever remote votes Frontier drops planned fees for social distancing on flights after criticism More resources for the Legal Services Corporation are needed as the pandemic continues 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