House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries
Hakeem Sekou JeffriesThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by the American Academy of HIV Medicine - Will there be any last-minute shutdown drama? Congress hits gas on border deal Trump: 'Shutdown would be a terrible thing' MORE (N.Y.) on Monday denounced "phonies" in the Republican Party for failing to condemn President Trump
Donald John TrumpRosenstein expected to leave DOJ next month: reports Allies wary of Shanahan's assurances with looming presence of Trump States file lawsuit seeking to block Trump's national emergency declaration MORE after he invoked the Trail of Tears in a tweet mocking Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Ann WarrenWarren set to announce plan for universal child care: reports Barack, Michelle Obama expected to refrain from endorsing in 2020 Dem primary: report Booker seeks dialogue about race as he kicks off 2020 campaign MORE (D-Mass.).
"Trail of tears massacre is part of Native American genocide perpetrated against millions of indigenous people. Mocking this shameful episode is a hateful trope," Jeffries wrote on Twitter.
Trail of tears massacre is part of Native American genocide perpetrated against millions of indigenous people.
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) February 11, 2019
Mocking this shameful episode is a hateful trope.
When will newly “enlightened” Republicans denounce their so-called President?
PHONIES. https://t.co/QnyvkEAprT
Trump on Saturday mocked Warren's claims of Native American ancestry — one of his favorite targets against the senator — after she officially launched her 2020 presidential campaign.
Today Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to by me as Pocahontas, joined the race for President. Will she run as our first Native American presidential candidate, or has she decided that after 32 years, this is not playing so well anymore? See you on the campaign TRAIL, Liz!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2019
The line was viewed as a reference to the forced relocation of Native American tribes, an event that led to the deaths of thousands of Cherokee between 1830 and 1850.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Warren over her past claims of Native American ancestry and has consistently referred to her as "Pocahontas" in tweets and at campaign rallies.
Warren announced her bid for president over the weekend, vowing to fight against a "rigged system" of which she said the billionaire GOP president was a "symptom."
The Massachusetts senator has come under scrutiny recently for previously identifying herself as Native American and releasing a DNA test showing she likely has a distant Native American ancestor. Warren publicly apologized for previously identifying as a Native American last week.
