In their first joint interview since President Trump’s “go back” comments, a group of four liberal lawmakers who call themselves “the squad” pushed back against the president.
Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts spoke with CBS News’ Gayle King to discuss Trump’s weekend tweets insisting that they “go back” to their home countries, although only Omar was born outside of the United States.
“I think America has always been a story, and America has always been about the triumph of people who fight for everyone versus those who want to preserve rights for just a select few,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “There is no bottom to the barrel of vitriol that will be used and weaponized to stifle those who want to advance rights for all people in in the United States.”
During the interview, Pressley, who called Trump’s remarks “predictable” and “hateful,” also referred to the president as “the occupant of this White House,” prompting King to ask whether that is a proper way to respect the Oval Office.
“Because he is only occupying the space, he does not embody the principles, the responsibility, the grace, the integrity of a true president,” Pressley answered. “I’m not dishonoring the office. He does, every day. This is a distraction; this is a disruption.”
Tlaib insisted that Trump is “the biggest bully I’ve ever had to deal with in my lifetime.”
“I’m trying to push back on that,” she said.
Omar described the posse as “a disruption to the business as usual that’s been Washington” and said that is why the four were voted into office during last year’s midterm elections.
