In a clear incitement of racist violence, the president tweeted a video that intercuts four words spoken by Rep. Ilhan Omar with graphic footage from 9/11. Our representatives—and presidential candidates—should all condemn the president’s latest Islamophobic demagoguery.
Democratic representatives need to make clear that the Congresswoman has the party’s support. Presidential candidates should issue statements that support Rep. Omar and clearly denounce the president.
Our GOP representatives should not be let off the hook, either. Our expectations for them have sunk low, but racism and attacks by the White House on the legislative branch of government are bipartisan problems.
Here are the statements issued so far. We will update this page as new statements are made.
U.S. Congress
Sen. John Cornyn
no statement
Sen. Ted Cruz
This clip has virtually nothing to do with anything but appears to be Ted Cruz’s statement on the matter.
Agree. Watch and make your own assessment. https://t.co/xVJ81pYqX2
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 14, 2019
Rep. Michael McCaul
no statement
Rep. Bill Flores
No statement, except to retweet the president.
Rep. Chip Roy
no statement
Rep. Roger Williams
no statement
Rep. John Carter
no statement
Rep. Lloyd Doggett
Trump’s unconscionable use of 9/11 imagery for a low attack on @IlhanMN debases his high office and debases the memory of those lost. He inflames hate to distract from the multiple failures of his Administration.
— Lloyd Doggett (@RepLloydDoggett) April 13, 2019
Rep. Joaquin Castro
President Trump is maliciously targeting and endangering the personal safety of @IlhanMN, a Muslim Congresswoman, who dared to point out that too often the entire Muslim community is defined by the worst acts of a few.
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) April 13, 2019
Congressional Candidates
I was teaching in Brooklyn, NY on 9/11. I felt the terror and uncertainty, the pain and suffering. And I saw New Yorkers come together to support each other.
Trump’s racist attacks on @Ilhan are the worst type of response. A leader should bring us together, not tear us apart.
— Mike Siegel (@SiegelForTexas) April 13, 2019
The president and those who support him are weaponizing a national tragedy, a terrorist attack on this country, for political gain. They are deliberately distorting @IlhanMN's words to intimidate her, demonize an entire religion, and divide us.
Dangerous, un-American and wrong.
— Julie Oliver (@JulieOliverTX) April 13, 2019
Other Notable Statements
I am grateful for @IlhanMN's courage and leadership and I stand with her – and with others targeted by the President's anti-Muslim rhetoric.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) April 13, 2019
The President is inciting violence against a sitting Congresswoman—and an entire group of Americans based on their religion. It's disgusting. It's shameful. And any elected leader who refuses to condemn it shares responsibility for it.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 13, 2019
We are stronger than this president’s hatred and Islamophobia. Do not let him drive us apart or make us afraid.
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) April 13, 2019
Here are Beto O’Rourke’s comments on the video President Trump tweeted: pic.twitter.com/TRph4TuK5s
— Jenna Johnson (@wpjenna) April 13, 2019
The memory of 9/11 is sacred ground, and any discussion of it must be done with reverence. The President shouldn’t use the painful images of 9/11 for a political attack.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 13, 2019
Just so we are clear on basic notions of reality:
When someone calls out a public official for things they said, it is not endangering their life or inciting violence.
Claiming otherwise is just an attempt to silence your critics.
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) April 13, 2019
Lloyd Doggett?
Where are you…yoohoo!