Politics - News Analysis

Trump Says His Supporters Who Want Him to Deport Ilhan Omar Are ‘Incredible Patriots’

Donald Trump appeared to backtrack on his disavowal of the North Carolina rally chant “send her back” on Friday when he told reporters he was unhappy with the congresswomen and people calling the country garbage.

Trump was meeting with astronauts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 in the Oval Office, alongside wife Melania Trump.

“I’m unhappy with the fact that a congresswoman can say anti-Semitic things. I’m unhappy with the fact that a congresswoman in this case, a different congresswoman, can call our country and our people garbage,” Trump said.

“But I’m unhappy when a congresswoman goes and says, I’m going to be the president’s nightmare. She’s going to be the president’s nightmare. She’s lucky to be where she is, let me tell you,” the president said. “And the things that she has said are a disgrace to our country.”

He went on to praise the crowds in North Carolina who started the “send her back” chant. “Those are incredible people. Those are incredible patriots,” he said, adding that it was a “record crowd” and he could’ve filled the arena ten times over.

The four congresswomen of color are American citizens, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib were all born in the United States. Trump has been widely condemned for invoking a racist trope against the members of Congress. Nevertheless, he has continued to attack them, especially Ilhan Omar, all week.

While the White House, and Trump himself, have said he was not happy with the racist chant, Trump made clear on Friday that he has no issue with his supporters and clearly has no intention of stopping his smears of the congresswomen.

WATCH:

Comments

Comments are currently closed.