Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib Explains Her Comments with NBC Late Night's Seth Meyers
Compiled by Arab America
During a recent interview with Yahoo News last week, U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI) reiterated her preference for a one-state solution in Israel which was taken out of context by right-wing Republicans who were trying to paint her as anti-semitic against Jewish people and the State of Israel.
In that interview, Tlaib stated that the Holocaust was tragic and horrific and that the state of Israel shouldn’t have been created in the way it was. She also mentioned the pride she felt for her Palestinian ancestors’ sacrifice in giving Jews a safe haven after the second world war and wanted Palestinians to find “light” in that fact, despite the oppression they face.
On Monday night, NBC’s “Late Night” host Seth Meyers asked Tlaib about the controversy. She said it was unfortunate President Donald Trump, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) took her words out of context.
Democrat Rep. Tlaib is being slammed for her horrible and highly insensitive statement on the Holocaust. She obviously has tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people. Can you imagine what would happen if I ever said what she said, and says?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2019
Talib told Meyers, “I got a text message from a friend who’s like ‘Hey, next time, you know, really clarify. Maybe talk like a fourth-grader because maybe the racist idiots will understand you better.’”
The Democratic leadership, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) defended Tlaib on Monday, reiterating that Republicans should apologize for twisting her statements.
Republicans’ desperate attempts to smear @RepRashida & misrepresent her comments are outrageous. President @realDonaldTrump & House GOP should apologize to Rep. Tlaib & the American people for their gross misrepresentations.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 13, 2019