House votes to censure Trump’s remarks

WASHINGTON—House Democrats voted Tuesday to condemn President Donald Trump’s controversial comments targeting four minority congresswoman. Lawmakers introduced the four-page resolution in response to the president’s tweets over the weekend suggesting the four Democrats “who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe” should not be telling the United States “how our government is to be run.” Trump was referring to Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, who were feuding with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., over the influence of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Omar, who immigrated from Somalia, is the only one of the four who was born outside of the United States.

Democrats and Republicans took to social media to condemn the remarks, leading to the nonbinding censure resolution. Some of the president’s allies defended him, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who said Tuesday that Trump’s tweets weren’t racist but advised him to attack ideas, not people, adding, “There’s been a consensus that political rhetoric has gotten way, way heated across the political spectrum.”

During the lead-up to the vote, lawmakers became engrossed for more than an hour in a spat over parliamentary rules that started after Pelosi said every lawmaker “should join us in condemning the president’s racist tweets.” Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., objected on grounds that Pelosi’s comments had violated the chamber’s rules of decorum and should be rescinded. Under House Rule XVII, remarks must avoid comments targeting “personality.” After consulting with the House parliamentarian, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-N.Y., confirmed that Pelosi’s “accusation of racist behavior … should not be used in debate.” The move resulted in a brief revocation of Pelosi’s speaking privileges until Democrats voted along party lines to keep her comments on the record.

The vote condemning Trump’s remarks passed 240-187 on a narrowly bipartisan basis. Four Republicans, Reps. Fred Upton of Michigan, Susan Brooks of Indiana, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Will Hurd of Texas, along with newly independent Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, sided with Democrats.

After the vote, the president thanked Republicans for remaining unified and doubled down on his criticism of the liberal congresswomen. “They are now the top, most visible members of the House Democrats, who are now wedded to this bitterness and hate,” he tweeted. “Also, this was the first time since 1984 that the Speaker of the House was ruled Out of Order and broke the Rules of the House. Quite a day!”