President Donald Trump has dismissed criticism that a recent tweet he made was ‘racist’ by saying it doesn’t concern him because many people agree with him.
Yesterday, July 14, President Trump sparked outrage when he tweeted suggesting that four congresswomen of colour should ‘go back to where they came from’.
The tweet is believed to refer to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley, all of whom are American citizens, three of which were born in America – Omar having arrived in the US from Somalia when she was ten years old.
Trump’s tweets read:
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.
Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough.
Despite outrage from Democrats, and numerous people online who’ve labelled the president’s comments ‘racist’, Trump has remained unapologetic for his remarks, doubling down on his comments.
While taking questions from reporters at the ‘Made in America Product Showcase’ this morning (July 15), reporters asked Trump about his controversial remarks pointing out that people saw the tweet as racist, adding that white nationalist groups may find common cause with him on the point.
Trump denied being worried however, saying:
It doesn’t concern me because many people agree with me. And all I’m saying — they want to leave, they can leave. Now, it doesn’t say, ‘Leave forever.’ It says, ‘Leave if you want.’
At the same press conference, Trump singled out Ilhan Omar, one of the first Muslim women to serve in Congress, by accusing her of being an al-Qaeda sympathiser who has spoken about how wonderful al-Qaeda is.
The president told reporters:
I mean, I look at the one, I look at Omar — I don’t know, I never met her — I hear the way she talks about al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda has killed many Americans. She said, ‘You can hold your chest out. When I think of America — uhh. When I think of al-Qaeda, I can hold my chest out.’
These are people that in my opinion hate our country … they can leave … they have to love our country.
Trump went on to accuse Omar of being an anti-Semite who hates Israel and Jews, with no basis for his remarks.
Earlier in the day, the president said he thought that the four women he needlessly attacked should apologise to him and to the office of the President.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the three other congresswomen refused to be cowed by the president however and fired back at Trump, calling on House Democratic leadership to bring impeachment proceedings against him.
The Daily Mail reports that Ms Ilhan Omar has led the charge against the president at a joint press conference on Capitol Hill today (July 15) while also denying the president’s claims that she supports al-Qaeda.
She told reporters:
It is time for us to impeach this president. This is the agenda of a white nationalist. He would love nothing more than to divide our country based on race, religion, gender orientation or immigration status, because this is the only way he knows he can prevent the solidarity of us working together across all of our differences.
In response Trump took to Twitter (of course), writing:
IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY HERE, YOU CAN LEAVE! It is your choice and your choice alone. This is about love for America. Certain people HATE our Country.
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More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.