President Donald Trump caused another twitter storm this week with a highly offensive posting in which he told four female freshman members to go back to their “original countries” and that they “can’t leave fast enough.” It is a well-known trope used against immigrants. Most of us have heard it. My Sicilian immigrant grandparents heard it continually. It is a disgraceful thing to say to another citizen and it should be condemned by all Americans as unacceptable from an American president. In response to bipartisan criticism, Trump doubled down and tweeted “Their disgusting language and the many terrible things they say about the United States must not be allowed to go unchallenged.”
Here is the posting from Sunday:
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. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!
Those progressive congresswomen are Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna S. Pressley of Massachusetts.
For the record, the “original” country form Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib and Pressley is the United States. Omar was a refugee from Somalia. Moreover, Omar is working to make this country a better place as all citizens should. It is her country. I strongly disagree with her policies and frankly I am not a fan. Her views have not “gone unchallenged,” as suggested by the President However, she is a fellow American who stood up to take part in our political system. Others have called for the same reforms as Omar and singling out her origins suggests that she is somehow less qualified or legitimate in working for such changes in her adopted country. She chose this country (as did my grandparents) and she has fulfilled her duty as a citizen to fight the freedoms and opportunities that brought her to these shores.
As President, Trump does great disservice to his office and his country with such offensive statements. He should apologize to these women and to the country.