House Republican leadership does not intend to vote in favor of a resolution condemning President Trump for using racist rhetoric against four congresswomen of color and argued the uproar over Trump’s tweets was purely political.
“I will vote against this resolution if you’re asking,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said during the House GOP leadership’s weekly press conference. “It’s all politics. … Let’s solve the problems that are before us.”
When asked about the “perception” that President Trump’s tweet was racist — when he told Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) to go back to their home country, even though three of the four were born in the U.S. — McCarthy deflected.
“I think the President clarified that yesterday,” he said, before suggesting that Republicans are the “Party of Lincoln” that believes “in the content of the individual.” He then offered that Republicans took action against Rep. Steve King (R-IA) when he did something “that we disagreed with.” McCarthy suggested Democrats have not done the same, despite a resolution condemning anti-Semitism that surfaced when Omar was accused of making anti-Semitic statements.
“I believe this is about ideology,” he said. “This is about socialism versus freedom.”
House GOP leadership won't support resolution condemning Trump's racist rhetoric pic.twitter.com/tizrMUD9AJ
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) July 16, 2019
Just after McCarthy ended the press conference, Trump tweeted his thanks for the GOP leader’s remarks.
Kevin McCarthy @GOPLeader, “The President’s Tweets were not Racist. The controversy over the tweets is ALL POLITICS. I will vote against this resolution.” Thank you Kevin!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2019
