In a series of tweets on Sunday, the US President told four Democratic congresswomen, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib, to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came”.
Three of the four women were born in the US.
He then went on to say Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, “would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements”.
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……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has condemned Trump’s remarks, commenting that she is proud New Zealand takes the opposite view. She also impressed the importance of a representative parliament.
“Usually I don’t get into other people’s politics, but it will be clear to most people that I completely and utterly disagree with him,” Ardern told the New Zealand radio program Morning Report.
“I’m quite proud that in New Zealand we take the opposite view, that we take the view that our Parliament should be a representative place, it should look and feel like New Zealand, it should have a range of different cultures and ethnicities and never should a judgement be made about the origin of anyone, and their right therefore to be in Parliament as a representative.”
“We should celebrate our diversity, we do in New Zealand, I’m proud of that and so I obviously take a very different view to President Trump.”
While other world leaders, including Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison, have remained silent on the racism displayed by Trump this week, Ardern has put a spotlight on the importance of embracing diversity and condemning racism.
It’s a message Ardern has consistently championed since the horrific Christchurch attack. Her words “they are us” remain more relevant than ever.
Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter: “telling four American Congresswomen of colour to go back to your own country, is hallmark language of white supremacists”.
On Tuesday, Trump continued to defend his comments, tweeting that he doesn’t have a racist bone in his body.
Those Tweets were NOT Racist. I don’t have a Racist bone in my body! The so-called vote to be taken is a Democrat con game. Republicans should not show “weakness” and fall into their trap. This should be a vote on the filthy language, statements and lies told by the Democrat…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2019