Theresa May has joined the growing chorus of criticism engulfing Donald Trump after he was accused of racism for telling four non-white congresswomen to ‘go back to where they came from.’
The outgoing prime minister, who leaves office in just over a week, made her feelings about the comments by the UK’s closest ally clear on Monday through a spokesman who clobbered Trump in a press briefing.
The president is facing widespread criticism over tweets about outspoken critic Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and three other female politicians, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.
Only Omar, from Somalia, is foreign-born. The other three, including an African-American, a Hispanic woman and a Palestinian-American Muslim. Omar, too, practices Islam.
Together they are known in Washington as ‘the squad.’ All four are among the most liberal federal lawmakers, either personally identifying as ‘Democratic socialists’ or advancing that faction’s agenda.
Asked about May’s opinion of Trump’s comments on Monday, her official spokesman said: ‘The prime minister’s view is that the language used to refer to these woman was totally unacceptable.’
Mrs May has appeared alongside Mr Trump several times during her tenure, most notably last month during his official state visit to London (pictured)
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blasted President Donald Trump for suggesting that she and other progressive lawmakers ‘go back’ to their countries and fix what’s broken there before telling the United States how the government should operate
He refused to say whether May thought Trump’s comments were racist, but told reporters that he was not aware of any plan for the two leaders to speak.
Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson are battling to replace May next week. They will go head-to-head in a debate Monday tonight, and can expect to be grilled on the comments from the president.
Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson is backing May, saying: ‘She’s right. And both men vying to be her successor should say so.’
May appeared alongside Trump during his June state visit to the UK, and previously at the White House.
The U.S. and UK are currently locked in a diplomatic tug-of-war over the resignation of ambassador Kim Darroch.
Police in London are investigating the leak of Darroch’s diplomatic cables in which he branded Trump ‘inept.’
Ocasio-Cortez punched back at Trump, tweeting: ‘Mr. President, the country I ”come from,” & the country we all swear to, is the United States.’
Earlier on Sunday, Trump told congresswomen to go fix the countries they are originally from before getting involved with American politics. It is believed he is referring to AOC, Pressley, Tlaib and Omar
‘But given how you’ve destroyed our border with inhumane camps, all at a benefit to you & the corps who profit off them, you are absolutely right about the corruption laid at your feet,’ she tweeted.
‘You are angry because you don’t believe in an America where I represent New York (district) 14, where the good people of Minnesota elected @IlhanMN, where @RashidaTlaib fights for Michigan families, where @AyannaPressley champions little girls in Boston.’
Congresswoman Omar, added: ‘Mr. President, As Members of Congress, the only country we swear an oath to is the United States.
‘Which is why we are fighting to protect it from the worst, most corrupt and inept president we have ever seen.’
Omar is a Somali-American who fled the African country with her family when she was a young child
Omar said in a tweet: ‘Mr. President, As Members of Congress, the only country we swear an oath to is the United States. Which is why we are fighting to protect it from the worst, most corrupt and inept president we have ever seen’
Freshman progressive Reps Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Rashida Tlaib (left) and Ayanna Pressley (right) have been at odds with House leadership after becoming the only four to vote against against a $4.6billion border bill
Few Republicans weighed in on the president’s comments. Congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only Republican black senator.
Mark Morgan, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said Sunday on CBS’s ‘Face the Nation’: ‘You’re going to have to ask the president what he means by those specific tweets.’
Trump doubled down Sunday night, tweeting that it was ‘so sad’ to see Democrats sticking up for the women: ‘If the Democrat Party wants to continue to condone such disgraceful behavior, then we look even more forward to seeing you at the ballot box in 2020!’
