Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, responds forcefully to new criticism from Republicans that she calls "false" and "shameful."
"President Trump [has] twisted and misconstrued my words to spread falsehoods rooted in hate," the first-term representative says in the statement below, issued Monday aftrernoon. It follows an earlier reaction on Twitter, which appears lower in this coverage:
In another strongly worded reaction Monday afternoon, the U.S. House speaker tweets:
Republicans’ desperate attempts to smear @RepRashida & misrepresent her comments are outrageous. President @realDonaldTrump & House GOP should apologize to Rep. Tlaib & the American people for their gross misrepresentations.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 13, 2019
On Facebook later Monday, Tlaib decries "a hate agenda to ignite fear" and vows: "I won't back down." Her post:
Original article, Monday morning:
There's no love lost between President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Rashinda Tlaib, a Detroit Democrat, who have gone at it over time.
The latest: Trump lashed out on his favorite platform, Twitter, calling her remarks about the Holocaust "horrible and highly insensitive."
"She obviously has tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people," said Trump. Tlaib says her remarks were misconstrued and twisted.
► Related coverage: 'Anatomy of a Smear:' Attacks on Tlaib Show 'Utterly Cynical Bad Faith,' Columnist Says
Last week, Tlaib, a Palestinian American, made remarks on an episode of Yahoo News' "Skullduggery" podcast. She said Holocaust Remembrance Day recently had a "kind of calming feeling" for her because of the role her ancestors played in providing a "safe haven" for Jews, willingly or not.
"When I think of the Holocaust and the tragedy of the Holocaust and the fact that it was my ancestors, Palestinians, who lost their land and some lost their lives, their livelihood, their human dignity, their existence, in many ways have been wiped out, . . . all of it was just in the name of trying to create a safe haven for Jews post the Holocaust, post the tragedy and horrific persecution of Jews across the world at that time," she said, according to a transcript provided by her office. "And I love the fact that it was my ancestors that provided that, right? . . But they did it in a way that took their human dignity away and it was forced on them."
Democrat Rep. Tlaib is being slammed for her horrible and highly insensitive statement on the Holocaust. She obviously has tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people. Can you imagine what would happen if I ever said what she said, and says?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2019
Policing my words, twisting & turning them to ignite vile attacks on me will not work. All of you who are trying to silence me will fail miserably. I will never allow you to take my words out of context to push your racist and hateful agenda. The truth will always win.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) May 13, 2019
