Though Trump’s tweets did not call out any of the congresswomen by name, several outlets reported that they were likely aimed at congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ayanna S. Pressley of Massachusetts. It should be noted that in no capacity does it matter where any of the women were born: They are all United States citizens. Omar is also the only one of the group born outside of the U.S.—she was born in Somalia.
The women, the Times noted, are currently at odds with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In a July 10 interview with The Washington Post, Ocasio-Cortez said she believes Pelosi singles out women of color in an attempt to isolate them and their beliefs.
“When these comments first started, I kind of thought that she was keeping the progressive flank at more of an arm’s distance in order to protect more moderate members, which I understood,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “But the persistent singling out . . . it got to a point where it was just outright disrespectful . . . the explicit singling out of newly elected women of color.”
Pelosi herself was quick to jump to the congresswomen’s defense on Sunday, writing in a tweet, “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. Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power.”
In a follow-up tweet, Pelosi added, “I reject @realDonaldTrump’s xenophobic comments meant to divide our nation. Rather than attack Members of Congress, he should work with us for humane immigration policy that reflects American values. Stop the raids.”
Ocasio-Cortez also powerfully replied to the President’s remarks, tweeting, “Mr. President, the country I ‘come from,’ & the country we all swear to, is the United States. But given how you’ve destroyed our border with inhumane camps, all at a benefit to you & the corps who profit off them, you are absolutely right about the corruption laid at your feet.”
She added in a series of follow-ups, “You are angry because you don’t believe in an America where I represent New York 14, where the good people of Minnesota elected @IlhanMN, where @RashidaTlaib fights for Michigan families, where @AyannaPressley champions little girls in Boston. You are angry because you can’t conceive of an America that includes us. You rely on a frightened America for your plunder. You won’t accept a nation that sees healthcare as a right or education as a #1 priority, especially where we’re the ones fighting for it.” She added, “Yet here we are.”
“But you know what’s the rub of it all, Mr. President? On top of not accepting an America that elected us, you cannot accept that we don’t fear you,either,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “You can’t accept that we will call your bluff & offer a positive vision for this country. And that’s what makes you seethe.”
