This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
July 15, 2019, marked a day of intense controversy for US President Donald Trump as he faced widespread criticism for racist tweets targeting four Democratic Congresswomen of color.
Trump's tweets, posted on Sunday, implied that the Congresswomen were not natural-born US citizens and accused them of lecturing the US on how governments are run, despite the governments in their countries of origin being in 'complete and total catastrophe.'
"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.
He concluded: "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!"
"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," said House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi described Trump's tweets as 'xenophobic' and accused him of trying to 'make America white again.'
"Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power," Pelosi added.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar responded to Trump's attacks, saying: "As Members of Congress, the only country we swear an oath to is the United States."
She accused Trump of 'stoking white nationalism' because he is 'angry that people like us are serving in Congress and fighting against your hate-filled agenda.'
Other leaders, including New Mexico Rep. Ben Ray Luján and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, also condemned Trump's remarks, with Luján calling the tweets 'racist' and Sanders saying: "When I call the president a racist, this is what I'm talking about."
