Romney, McAdams criticize Trump for his racist remarks; Silence of other members of Utah

Washington • Senator Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said Monday that President Donald Trump's racist attacks on four minority Democratic congressional members were "destructive" and "degrading" and did not allow for unifying rhetoric worthy of the highest. post of the country.

Ben McAdams, representative of D-Utah, said Trump's tweet was "offensive and unworthy of the position he occupies".

Other members of the response from the delegation of Utah? Silence.

"Over the past few days, there have been many exchanges in Washington from two different sides, but I want to make it very clear that the president has a unique and noble calling to bring the people together. American, "said Romney. told reporters on Capitol Hill Monday afternoon.

"Invite all peoples of different races, colors and national origins to unite in a unified way. In this regard, the president went bankrupt this weekend and continues to do so. Listen, it's important for the president to get together and that's not happening, and I know that in Washington the speech is hot, but, God, we're expecting more from the president. We are waiting for the kind of leadership associated with the highest position in the country. "

Romney refused to say he thought the tweet was racist, but he said it was "destructive, humiliating, disuniting and downright very fake."

McAdams, Utah's only congressional Democrat, also harshly criticized the president but did not call his remarks racist.

"The president's tweet was offensive and undermined the dignity of the position he held. The division is false and diverted from our work for the American people, "said McAdams. "The more time we spend talking about offensive tweets from politicians, the less time we spend looking for solutions. Our country faces serious challenges and I intend to spend my time working with sincere politicians from both sides to find solutions. "

A spokesman for Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, declined to comment on Monday.

The offices of other GOP congressmen from Utah – representatives Rob Bishop, John Curtis and Chris Stewart – have not responded to requests for comment.

Former US Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, who strongly criticized Trump during his tenure and since then, tweeted that it was the duty of his Republican compatriots to get up.

"I've often said that we could not expect Republicans to answer every comment from the president," Flake wrote. "But sometimes the president's words are so vile and offensive that it is up to the Republicans to react and condemn. It's one of these times. "

That said, Republicans find themselves in a difficult situation. If they criticize the president, they could be considered anti-trump and hurt their own status among their conservative base. If they defend him, they could be seen as sharing his views.

"This is a direct result of Trump's popularity with the GOP base," said Doug Heye, former communications director of the National Republican Committee, now a commentator on CNN. "If you want to play Trump's game, you have to save it."

Romney spoke after Trump stepped up his fiery rhetoric aimed at four members of the Democratic House who banded together to push their party to the left.

The president tweeted on Sunday that the four women – who he did not name – should "return" to "totally devastated and infested places of crime from which they came".

The four women appeared to be representatives of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. Three of them are born in America and Omar is a naturalized citizen.

Although Democrats and even some Republicans criticized Trump's remarks, he did not back down.

"When will the women of the Radical Left Congress apologize to our country, to the people of Israel, and even to the President's office, for the foul language they have used and the terrible words that they have used? They held? So many people are angry with them and their actions horrible and disgusting! Trump tweeted.

On Monday, at an event presented as a celebration of products made in America, Trump asked if his remarks were racist.

"Not at all," he says. "If anyone has a problem with our country, if someone does not want to be in our country, he has to leave."