Republican Rep. Mark Meadows defended both President Trump and his Democratic colleague, Rep. Elijah Cummings, from charges of racism and urged for more civility between the two parties.

“I am friends with both men, President Trump and Chairman Cummings. I know both men well. Neither man is a racist. Period. Both love America,” Meadows said in a statement to Politico. “I think if we put aside partisanship with investigations we can find bipartisan solutions that will benefit not only Chairman Cummings’ district but the country as a whole.”