Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Minn., said a friend advised her to “talk like a fourth grader” so “racist idiots” understand her, after she came under fire for saying that thinking about the Holocaust gives her a “calming feeling” because Palestinians provided a “safe haven” for Jewish victims.
Tlaib, who is Palestinian American and one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, was accused by President Trump for having a “tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people” after the remarks. But she attempted to clarify in basic terms what she meant during an interview with “Late Night” host Seth Meyers Monday.
Democrat Rep. Tlaib is being slammed for her horrible and highly insensitive statement on the Holocaust. She obviously has tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people. Can you imagine what would happen if I ever said what she said, and says?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2019
“You know, the tragedy of the Holocaust — I mean, the reason why Israel was created was to create a safe haven for Jews around the world and there is something, in many ways, beautiful about, that my ancestors — many had died or had to give up their livelihood, their human dignity to provide a safe haven for Jews in our world,” Tlaib said. “And that is something I wanted to recognize and kind of honor in some sort of way.”
“And it was unfortunate you know, I got a text message from a friend who’s like, ‘Hey, next time, you know, really clarify. Maybe talk like a fourth grader. Because maybe the racist idiots would understand you better,’” she added later.
[Related: House Democrats rally behind embattled Tlaib ]
Tlaib’s original comments were made during an interview with Yahoo News’ podcast “Skullduggery” on Friday.
“There’s always kind of a calming feeling, I tell folks, when I think of the Holocaust, and the tragedy of the Holocaust, and the fact that it was my ancestors — Palestinians — who lost their land and some lost their lives, their livelihood, their human dignity, their existence in many ways, have been wiped out, and some people’s passports.”
She later tweeted that “policing my words, twisting & turning them to ignite vile attacks on me will not work” after the remarks were criticized for being anti-Semitic.
Tlaib was first elected in the 2018 midterm election, and launched her congressional career vowing to ” impeach the motherf—er,” a reference to Trump.
