Foreign-born lawmaker: Trump’s not going to tell me to ‘go back to my country’

A congressman born in Lima, Peru, said President Trump’s tweet suggesting a group of congresswomen “go back” to the countries that they came from has “nothing to do with birthplace.” 

As a foreign-born representative, unlike many of the women Trump was likely targeting in his Sunday tweet, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) said he hasn’t been told to “go back” by Trump, calling himself a “white male.” 

“But I’m a white male of European descent. He’s not going to tell me to ‘go back to my county’. His tantrum has nothing to do with birthplace.” Himes said in a Monday Instagram post, sharing a photo of himself as a second grade student in Colombia. “This country is stronger because of our diversity.”

 

 

 

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Unlike the Democratic Congresswomen the President targeted today, I actually am a foreign-born Member of Congress. I was born in Lima, Peru. This picture is of me in 2nd grade in Colombia. But I’m a white male of European descent. He’s not going to tell me to ‘go back to my county’. His tantrum has nothing to do with birthplace. This country is stronger because of our diversity.

A post shared by Jim Himes (@repjimhimes) on Jul 14, 2019 at 8:18pm PD 

Trump tweeted Sunday that “‘progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe” should “go back.” 

The tweet appears to be aimed at a group of freshman House Democrats, including Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.). {mosads}

Omar came to the U.S. as a child as a Somali refugee. The other congresswomen were born in the U.S.

Democrats have denounced the president’s tweet as a racist message designed to divide Americans. 

He doubled down on his remarks late Sunday, despite the backlash.

Republicans have not come forward to denounce the president’s tweet.