Trump tweet row: Do not take bait, say Congress women

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The four US Congress women attacked by US President Donald Trump in a series of racist tweets dismissed his remarks as a distraction.

Representatives of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib urged the American people "not to bite the hook" at a press conference held on Monday.

Mr. Trump suggested to the four women – all US citizens – "can leave".

He defended his remarks and denied the allegations of racism.

Sending to reporters, the four women – known as The Squad – have all said that the focus should be on politics and not on the president's words.

"This is simply a disruption and distraction from the insane chaos and corrupt culture of this administration, until the end," said Ms. Pressley.

Both Ms. Omar and Ms. Tlaib reiterated their call for Mr. Trump to be charged.

Their response came after Trump launched a Twitter tirade on Sunday, inviting the four women – three of whom were born in the US and one, Somalia-born Mrs. Omar – to "go back and help fix the crime." totally broken infested places from where they came from. "

His remarks were widely condemned as racist and xenophobic.

What did the women of Congress say?

Ms. Pressley rejected the president's efforts "to marginalize us and silence us," adding that they were "more than four people."

"Our team is great, our team includes anyone committed to building a fairer and more equitable world," she said.

The four women insisted that health care, gun violence and in particular the detention of migrants at the US border with Mexico should be at the center of concern.

"The eyes of history are watching us," said Omar, denouncing "mbad deportation raids" and "human rights violations at the border".

Ms. Omar said that Mr. Trump's "flagrant racist attack" on four women of color was "on the agenda of the white nationalists", adding that he did not wish "anything more that divide our country ".

The president had previously suggested to Ms. Omar to support the jihadist Al-Qaeda group. "I know that all the Muslims who have lived in this country and all over the world have heard this comment and I will not give an answer," she said, adding that she does not know what to say. did not expect the white community members to respond A man "kills in a school, movie theater, mosque or synagogue".

"When this president took office and until today, he talked about everything that was wrong with this country and how it was going to succeed." Said Ms. Omar, claiming that calling them "non-American" was "total hypocrisy".

Ms. Tlaib described it as "simply a continuation of her racist and xenophobic game book". She and Omar reiterate their calls for Mr. Trump's removal from office – something the Democratic Party leaders have so far refused to pursue.

"We remain focused on making him accountable for the laws of this country," said Tlaib.

Meanwhile, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez recounted that she had visited Washington DC while she was a child, saying that people should tell young people that "no matter what the president says, this country belongs to you. ".

"We do not leave what we love," she said, adding that "weak minds and leaders are challenging loyalty to our country to avoid questioning and debating politics."

What is the subject of the dispute?

On Friday, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Tlaib and Ms. Pressley testified before a committee of the House about the conditions of detention at a migrant detention center that they had visited.

Democrats have widely criticized the Trump government's approach to border control, saying they detain migrants in inhumane conditions.

Trump insists that the border is facing a crisis and has defended the actions of its border agents. His administration announced the entry into force, on July 16, of a new rule banning asylum to anyone crossing the southern border without seeking protection in "at least one third country" en route to United States.

After their testimony, Mr. Trump insisted that "the critics of the center were good". He then posted his series of tweets about women and Ms. Omar, attacks that he repeated on Monday.

Photo: President Trump defends racist tweets

"If you're not happy, if you complain all the time, you can leave," he said at an animated press conference in front of the White House.

While the women were speaking at the press conference Monday night, he tweeted again.

"If you are not happy here, you can leave! It's your choice, and your choice alone. It's about love for America," she said. he writes.

What was the answer?

The Democrats strongly condemned the president and were joined by several Republicans.

Senator Tim Scott, the only African-American Republican in the Senate, described the president's remarks as "racist". Republican MP Will Hurd, also an African-American, described the remarks as "racist and xenophobic".

After the press conference, US Senator and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney called Mr. Trump's remarks "destructive, degrading and disuniting."

"People may disagree on politics and politics, but telling Americans to come back from where they come from is illogical," he tweeted.

But Republican congressman Andy Harris had previously defended Trump, saying on WBAL radio: "This is clearly not a racist comment, it could have meant going back to the district where it was. he was coming to the neighborhood where he came from. "

In a letter to the Democrats on Monday, Pelosi announced a resolution in the House condemning "disgusting attacks". It is not known when the vote will take place.