Pelosi announces House resolution to condemn Trump's 'xenophobic tweets'

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTurkey sanctions face possible wall in GOP Senate Trump lashes out at Pelosi as she visits Jordan to discuss Syria Thomas D'Alesandro III, brother of Nancy Pelosi, dies at 90 MORE (D-Calif.) on Monday urged House Democrats to support a resolution to condemn President TrumpDonald John TrumpZuckerberg launches public defense of Facebook as attacks mount Trump leaning toward keeping a couple hundred troops in eastern Syria: report Warren says making Israel aid conditional on settlement building is 'on the table' MORE for tweeting that four Democratic congresswomen of color should "go back" to their countries, even though all are U.S. citizens.

 

"The House cannot allow the President’s characterization of immigrants to our country to stand. Our Republican colleagues must join us in condemning the President’s xenophobic tweets," Pelosi wrote in a letter to House Democrats announcing a "forthcoming" resolution from Reps. Tom MalinowskiThomas (Tom) MalinowskiHillicon Valley: GOP lawmakers offer election security measure | FTC Dem worries government is 'captured' by Big Tech | Lawmakers condemn Apple over Hong Kong censorship Lawmakers condemn Apple, Activision Blizzard over censorship of Hong Kong protesters Khashoggi fiancée meets with lawmakers seeking 'justice and accountability' for his slaying MORE (D-N.J.), who was born in Poland, Jamie RaskinJamin (Jamie) Ben RaskinEx-Trump aide on Russia testifies for 10 hours as part of impeachment inquiry Oversight panel to subpoena Trump officials next week over deportation deferrals Democrats plow ahead as Trump seeks to hobble impeachment effort MORE (D-Md.), and other Democratic members who were born abroad.

 

"This weekend, the President went beyond his own low standards using disgraceful language about Members of Congress," Pelosi added. "Rather than attack Members of Congress, he should work with us for humane immigration policy that reflects American values."

 

In Trump's tweets, which appeared to be directed at freshmen Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), the president suggested they "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came."

 

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.

 

"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 wrote in a series of tweets Sunday morning.

 

The House resolution would offer Democrats a chance to unite after internal strife over the past week when the four freshman lawmakers sparred with party leaders. Ocasio-Cortez had suggested in an interview with The Washington Post last week that Pelosi was engaging in a pattern of "explicit singling out of newly elected women of color."

 

Pelosi defended Ocasio-Cortez and the three other progressive lawmakers on Sunday after Trump's tweets.

 

"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," Pelosi tweeted. "Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power."

 

 

Trump has not retreated from his initial remarks. On Sunday evening, he doubled down after Pelosi defended the four freshman lawmakers.

 

"So sad to see the Democrats sticking up for people who speak so badly of our Country and who, in addition, hate Israel with a true and unbridled passion. Whenever confronted, they call their adversaries, including Nancy Pelosi, 'RACIST, '" Trump tweeted. 

"Their disgusting language and the many terrible things they say about the United States must not be allowed to go unchallenged. 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 added.

 

Trump later said his tweets were "not at all" racist.

 

“Not at all,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday when asked if his tweets about the lawmakers were racist. “If somebody has a problem with our country, if somebody doesn’t want to be in our country, they should leave.”

 

Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeSheila Jackson LeeConsequential GOP class of 1994 all but disappears Video of Greta Thunberg crossing paths with Trump at UN goes viral Lewandowski: House testimony shows I'd be 'a fighter' in the Senate MORE (D-Texas) is also drafting a resolution to condemn Trump for his tweets. A spokesman for Jackson Lee said that her office is in discussions with House leadership.