Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., pushed back on White House press secretary Sarah Sander’s allegations that she identified as Native American to advance her career.
Warren, who has come under scrutiny for identifying as Native American in a directory of law professors before securing a job at Harvard Law School, told CNN host Anderson Cooper Monday night that she never used her heritage to “get ahead.”
“Never. I never used it to get ahead, I never used it to get into school, I never used it to get a job,” Warren said. “Look, this is just a way for Donald Trump to be able to try to get somebody talking about something other than what he’s doing.”
Sanders defended Trump after he called Warren “Pocahontas” in front of a special group of Native American military veterans during a White House ceremony held to commemorate Native Americans who fought in World War II.
“I think Sen. Warren was very offensive when she lied about something to advance her career. I don’t understand why no one is asking about that,” Sanders told reporters Monday.
Warren told Cooper she learned about her heritage from her parents and grandparents. She also reiterated her offense at Trump’s use of the “racial slur.”
“I really couldn’t believe it. There he was at a ceremony to honor Native Americans, men who have really put it all on the line, to save American lives, to save lives of people, our allies during World War II,” Warren said. “Really amazing people and President Trump couldn’t even make it through a ceremony to honor these men without throwing in a racial slur.”
