AOC responds to 'white nationalist' Trump's racist attack

‘You are angry because you can’t conceive of an America that includes us,’ says New York congresswoman

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has responded to Donald Trump’s call for Democratic congresswomen to “go back” to the “crime-infested places from which they came” by accusing him of white nationalism.

The New York representative is thought to be one of the four women of colour the president was referring to in his widely condemned tweets on Sunday.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez claimed Mr Trump had “showed off his white nationalism for the world to see”, and also criticised his supporters for “defending racism” in her latest tweets.

Earlier on Sunday the progressive politician addressed the president more directly, stating: “You are angry because you can’t conceive of an America that includes us. You rely on a frightened America for your plunder.”

In a Monday interview with Sky News, Ms Ocasio-Cortez said it was time for the country to "move on from him.”

“I think there’s a strategy to divide the country, because the more this country is divided, the more he benefits from it", she said.

The others believed to be the subject of Mr Trump’s tweets also expressed their outrage. Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar tweeted: “You are stoking white nationalism bc you are angry that people like us are serving in Congress and fighting against your hate-filled agenda.”

Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, added: “THIS is what racism looks like. WE are what democracy looks like. And we’re not going anywhere. Except back to DC to fight for the families you marginalize and vilify everyday.”

Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said “no bully, even this racist President, will waiver the work we have to do … Together, we will fight back, speak truth to power, and become stronger for it.”

Mr Trump had claimed Ms Ocasio-Cortez and Ms Omar were among a group of progressive Democrats being “disrespectful” to Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker.

“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,” he wrote.

Ms Pelosi, however, was among the leading Democrats who joined the fierce condemnation on Sunday, saying the president’s “xenophobic comments meant to divide our nation”.

Mr Trump appeared unbowed on Sunday night when he returned to Twitter to say it was “so sad” to see Democrats sticking up for the women.

He wrote: “If the Democrat Party wants to continue to condone such disgraceful behaviour, then we look even more forward to seeing you at the ballot box in 2020!”

Ms Ocasio-Cortez said Democrats needed to get on with fighting for living wages, healthcare, education a “humane” border. “They can stay busy defending racism. We’ve got things to do.”