In a series of three tweets, US President Donald Trump called on unnamed Democratic Congresswomen to “go back” to the countries they came from. He didn’t explicitly outline who he was talking about, but the context pointed undisputedly to a group of four Congresswomen sometimes nicknamed “the squad”. Three of the women were born and raised in the US, while one came to the US as a refugee aged 12.
The full series of tweets said: “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!”
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The reference to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave it away – Ms Pelosi had clashed with the four women last week, but has come to their defence following this tweet.
The congresswomen – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley, and Ilhan Omar, who came to the US as a refugee aged 12 – have all called the president racist, and have been backed by members of the Democratic Party.
Ms Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx in New York, just 12 miles away from the Queens hospital where Mr Trump was born.
The clash between Ms Pelosi and the four women came over ongoing internal feuds among Democrats over a border funding package.
Ms Pelosi has argued in favour of the package, with the four women – all newcomers to Congress with a progressive agenda – voting against.
In response, Ms Pelosi quoted Mr Trump’s tweets and described them as “xenophobic”.
She wrote: “When @realDonaldTrump tells four American congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to ‘Make America Great Agai’’ has always been about making America white again. Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power.”
Ms Ocasio-Cortez tweeted at Mr Trump: “On top of not accepting an America that elected us, you cannot accept that we don’t fear you either.”
Ms Tlaib, congresswoman for Michigan’s 13th district, tweeted calling for Mr Trump’s impeachment.
Ms Omar told the president that he was “stoking white nationalism because you are angry that people like us are serving in Congress and fighting against your hate-filled agenda”.
And Ms Pressley shared a screenshot of Mr Trump’s tweet, adding: “THIS is what racism looks like. WE are what democracy looks like.”
Since the initial tweet and the ensuing fallout – which has included condemnation from UK Prime Minister Theresa May – Mr Trump has continued his Twitter tirade.
One of his most recent tweets said: “If Democrats want to unite around the foul language & racist hatred spewed from the mouths and actions of these very unpopular & unrepresentative Congresswomen, it will be interesting to see how it plays out.”
He is still tweeting.