USA: Trump's tweeting tirade 'exposes racism and xenophobia' of his policies

President’s ‘go back’ tirade against four prominent congresswomen has caused outrage

‘President Trump must stop normalising racism, sexism, transphobia, cruelty and hate’ - Kumi Naidoo

Responding to recent tweets from the US President Donald Trump accusing four Democrat congresswomen of hating the United States and suggesting they go back to the “totally broken and crime infested places from which they came”, Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:

“Trump’s ugly targeting of these congresswomen exposes the racism and xenophobia at the heart of his despicable policies - from imposing a travel ban on people travelling from Muslim-majority countries, to separating children from their parents at the Mexican border, and denying the rights of people seeking asylum.
 
“As president of the United States, Trump has demonised minority groups, whipped up hatred and fear, and sowed division.

“His words prove that xenophobia, rather than the safety of the people of the United States, motivates these policies. 

“President Trump must stop normalising racism, sexism, transphobia, cruelty and hate.”

14 July tweets

In a series of tweets on 14 July, President Trump said of the four congresswomen:

“Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how ... it is done.”

Trump did not identify the lawmakers by name, but it was widely understood he was referring to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

Yesterday, Trump renewed his attack on Ocasio-Cortez and the other lawmakers, accusing them of being “anti-America” and having policies that would “destroy our Country”.

Trump has continued to defend his tweets today, claiming they were not racist and that he doesn’t have “a Racist bone in my body”.