President Trump called for a group of progressive, minority congresswomen to apologize to him, Israel, and the United States itself. The comments come after Trump set off a firestorm, suggesting that the progressive Democrats “go back” to their home countries. Many have been calling on the president to apologize but he has doubled down, tweeting:
When will the Radical Left Congresswomen apologize to our Country, the people of Israel and even to the Office of the President, for the foul language they have used, and the terrible things they have said. So many people are angry at them & their horrible & disgusting actions!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2019
Trump also suggested that the progressive women are anti-Semitic and racist. He further claimed that the women are unpopular, despite each having won popular votes in their districts.
The Siena Research Institute found in a poll this past spring that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) enjoyed a 52 percent favorability rating versus 33 percent unfavorable. Real Clear Politics reports that only 43 percent of voters view Trump favorably while 53 percent view him unfavorably.
Interestingly, while President Trump suggested the Democrats go to their home country, three of the four were born in the United States. Ayanna Pressley was born in Chicago, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was born in New York City, and Rashida Tlaib was born in Detroit. Only Ilhan Omar was born outside of the country (in Somalia) but she is a naturalized citizen.
The back and forth between the president and the congresswomen has sparked a firestorm. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has stepped in to defend the women, arguing “his plan to ’Make America Great Again’’ has always been about making America white again.” Meanwhile, Republican senator and staunch Trump supporter Lindsey Graham called the women “a bunch of communists.”
