WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that Minnesota U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar should resign from Congress or not be allowed to serve on committees, while he described as "lame" her apology for tweets decried as anti-Semitic by members of both parties.
"Anti-Semitism has no place in the United States Congress," Trump said to reporters at a White House Cabinet meeting. "I think she should either resign from Congress or she should certainly resign from the Foreign Affairs Committee."
Omar posted an apology to Twitter on Monday afternoon, after two earlier tweets drew an unusual public rebuke from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House Democratic leaders. Her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's remarks.
In a tweet on Sunday, Omar posted a song lyric, "It's all about the Benjamins, baby" _ which she later clarified to say she meant to suggest that money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) drove U.S. politicians to support Israel. It was not the first time that Omar has tweeted criticism of Israel, and before the latest tweet she had already worked to allay concerns among Twin Cities Jewish groups about past online remarks.
The latest tweet drew criticism from some of those same groups and across the political spectrum. Several other U.S. House Democrats were critical, including her fellow Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, who is Jewish. Omar has met with several of those members, including Phillips.
One critic was Rep. Eliot Engel, the New York Democrat who chairs House Foreign Affairs Committee. Omar, who took office at the beginning of January, won a coveted spot on that panel. Republicans have called for her removal, but Democratic leaders so far have not taken that step.
"Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes. My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole," Omar wrote in her apology. She added that she continues to be concerned by the power of lobbyists in Washington, not just AIPAC but others who represent interest groups such as the National Rifle Association and the fossil fuels industry.
Trump's response on Tuesday to a question from a reporter about Omar was not the first time he talked about Omar's latest controversy. He also commented on it Monday night in El Paso, Texas: "I think it was a terrible statement and I don't think her apology was adequate."
Trump himself has been the subject of frequent criticism from Democrats and some Republicans for tweets and public statements about various groups of people. In one notable example, Trump said there were "some very fine people on both sides" at a public clash between white nationalists and protesters in Virginia.
