FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 12, 2019
CONTACT: Elliot Levy, [email protected], 202-800-7409
New York – Following President Trump’s call for the resignation of Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, Ginna Green, Chief Strategy Officer of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, released the following statement:
“President Trump has absolutely zero standing to call for the resignation of any elected official for insensitive or hurtful remarks. Coming from a man who has embraced white nationalism with open arms, called neo-Nazis "very fine people," and used racist and violent rhetoric to target immigrants, Muslims, refugees, women, people of color, people with disabilities – and yes, Jews too – these attacks on a progressive, Muslim, woman of color leader reek of political opportunism and bad faith.
“Jewish Americans see past the faux concern for the well-being of our community espoused by Trump and his allies. We have not forgotten his lies about an “invasion” of people fleeing violence in Central America. We have not forgotten his refusal, following the Pittsburgh shooting, to denounce white nationalism. We have not forgotten the National Republican Congressional Committee’s antisemitic campaign ad or Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s tweet that used blatant antisemitic imagery. And we have not forgotten that no apology was ever issued for any one of these egregious acts.
“Rep. Omar was right to apologize for hurtful words. We are waiting for President Trump and his allies to hold themselves to the same standard.”