President Trump singled out Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) en route to El Paso, Texas on Monday for the anti-Semitic sentiments she's spewed since being sworn in in January. She "should be ashamed of herself," he told reporters. Most recently, she accused Republicans of supporting Israel because "it's all about the Benjamins."
House Democratic leadership issued a rebuke of Omar's remarks, assuring concerned citizens that Congress's support of Israel "is based on shared values and strategic interests."
The backlash pressured Omar to release an apology for her string of comments, but she qualified her "sorry" with a note at the end targeting pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC.
Trump had more to say about the matter live from the White House on Tuesday.
President Trump says Rep. Omar's apology for Israel tweets was 'lame' https://t.co/Pux5QOncwm pic.twitter.com/JNNBi5r5OX
— TIME (@TIME) February 12, 2019
"Anti-semitism has no place in the United States Congress," Trump said. "Congressman Omar is terrible what she said, and I think she should either resign from Congress, or she should certainly resign from the House Foreign Affairs Committee."
"What she said is so deep-seated in her heart, that her lame apology, that's what it was," he continued. "It was lame, and she didn't mean a word of it."
With the president now weighing in, it has apparently given progressive lawmakers the opportunity to turn the tables on him. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) defended her fellow freshman on Twitter, accusing Trump of being guilty of much worse behavior.
“Unlike this President, Rep. @IlhanMN demonstrated a capacity to acknowledge pain & apologize, use the opportunity to learn abt history of antisemitism,+grow from it while clarifying her stance. I’m also inspired by Jewish leadership who brought her in, not push her out, to heal,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote.
She added that she was "proud" of her friend for shedding light on the issue of lobbying in politics.
Eventually, Omar published a self-defense.
Hi @realDonaldTrump-
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 13, 2019
You have trafficked in hate your whole life—against Jews, Muslims, Indigenous, immigrants, black people and more. I learned from people impacted by my words. When will you? https://t.co/EqqTyjkiNE
The Congressional Progressive Caucus also sided with Omar in rebuking Trump. They listed out a few specific items to try and prove Trump's "racist" agenda.
CPC Co-Chairs @repmarkpocan & @RepJayapal urge Americans of all political stripes to reject @realDonaldTrump's cynical effort to stifle and intimidate diverse voices such as @Ilhan's. We look forward to her continued leadership in her committee and in the CPC. pic.twitter.com/hwsOw4XLNK
— Progressive Caucus (@USProgressives) February 13, 2019
Omar must stop trying to deflect criticism away from herself and answer for her anti-Israel antics. She also can't get away with interactions like this:
Before I even got my question out the second time I saw her, Ilhan Omar angrily said: “Are you serious? What’s wrong with you.” https://t.co/uhQ2stdrsF
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 13, 2019