House Democrats plan for a vote this week on a resolution that "strongly condemns President Donald Trump's racist comments" that four congresswomen should return to their native countries.
The measure says Trump's tweets Sunday "have legitimized and increased fear and hatred of new Americans and people of color."
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While he did not mention names, Trump appeared to be referring to first-year US representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). This group is known as "the squad" and has been very critical of Trump and of Israel, and also of the current Democratic leadership in Congress.
Trump reacted on Tuesday to the criticism, defending his language. "Those Tweets were NOT Racist. I don't have a Racist bone in my body! The so-called vote to be taken is a Democrat con game."
The four-page resolution quotes from a 1989 speech by President Ronald Reagan that said America draws its strength "from every country and every corner of the world." Reagan, a Republican, said that if the US ever closed its doors to immigrants, "our leadership in the world would soon be lost."
The Democrats' measure says the House is "committed to keeping America open to those lawfully seeking refuge and asylum."
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said Democrats were playing politics.
