Trump says congresswomen 'hate our country' as House plans vote on resolution condemning his tweets
President Trump on Monday continued to defend his tweets telling four minority congresswomen to "go back" to where they came from as the House of Representatives planned to vote on a resolution condemning the remarks.
Trump during an event on Monday said that the congresswomen he targeted in the tweet, including Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), "in my opinion hate our country" and that "if they're not happy here, they can leave." Trump also said that the congresswomen "have to love our country." Asked if he's concerned about his tweets being seen as racist, including by white supremacists, Trump said he's not.
"It doesn't concern me because many people agree with me," Trump said.
Trump spoke shortly after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced that the House will consider a resolution condemning Trump's tweets, encouraging Republicans to join with Democrats in voting for it.
"The House cannot allow the president's characterization of immigrants to our country to stand," Pelosi said, The Hill reports. "Our Republican colleagues must join us in condemning the President's xenophobic tweets." Some GOP lawmakers have begun to push back on Trump's remarks, the latest being Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who in a statement on Monday afternoon said Trump's comments were "way out of line" and "he should take that down."
TRUMP: "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 ... these are people that in my opinion hate our country ... they can leave ... they have to love our country." pic.twitter.com/ldQhkWJoC8
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 15, 2019