Donald Trump peddles rumour congresswoman married her brother before leading calls to 'send her back'
Donald Trump has continued his attack on Democratic congresswomen known as ‘The Squad’, suggesting that one is married to her brother.
The President was accused of racism after saying the four women, three of whom were born in the US and all of whom are US citizens, should ‘go back’ to their countries.
In his latest barb, Mr Trump suggested that Ilhan Omar had married her brother and should possibly be investigated.
Responding to a question from Fox News, he said: “Well, there’s a lot of talk about the fact that she was married to her brother.
“I know nothing about it, I hear she was married to her brother, you’re asking me a question about it. I don’t know, but I’m sure that somebody would be looking at that.”
Mr Trump sparked outrage with his vicious attack on the four congresswomen - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.
In a series of tweets on Sunday he said they "originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe" and should "go back".
The US House of Representatives voted to condemn the comments, denouncing the President’s "racist comments that have legitimised fear and hatred of New Americans and people of colour".
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But the Mr Trump continued his offensive at a campaign rally in Greenville, North Carolina.
There the crowd responded with chants of: ‘Send them back, send them back’.
Omar, who arrived in the US from Somalia as a refugee, has previously dismissed rumours that she had married her brother as ‘disgusting lies’.
In a tweet on Thursday, she posted a picture of herself with the words: “I am where I belong, at the people’s house and you’re just gonna have to deal!”
👋🏽 I am where I belong, at the people’s house and you’re just gonna have to deal! pic.twitter.com/W0OvDXGxQX
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 18, 2019
UK politicians have also backed The Squad, joining HOPE not hate in sending a message of support to the women.
The letter, signed by supporters including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, other MPs, two trade union general secretaries, and more than 13,000 activists, said: "We are disgusted by Donald Trump's attack on you. His blatant, unashamed racism has appalled people around the world.
"You embody the best of America. Its diversity is its strength. Thank you for showing the world that America can still provide leadership to be proud of, even when the White House has abdicated that role.
"We stand in solidarity with you."
Update: The headline for this article was changed on July 18.
