McConnell calls GOP Rep. Steve King's racial remarks 'unwelcome and unworthy' of his position

In response to remarks made by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) about white supremacy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Monday there is "no place in the Republican Party, the Congress, or the country for an ideology of racial supremacy of any kind."

McConnell is the highest-ranking Republican to rebuke King for his comments; in an interview last week with The New York Times, King, who has a history of making inflammatory statements about immigrants and minorities and meeting with far-right groups with ties to Nazis, asked why "white supremacist" and "white nationalist" are considered "offensive" terms.

In a statement to The Washington Post, McConnell said he has "no tolerance for such positions and those who espouse these views are not supporters of American ideals and freedoms. Rep. King's statements are unwelcome and unworthy of his elected position. If he doesn't understand why 'white supremacy' is offensive, he should find another line of work."

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Earlier Monday, Reps. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) and Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) filed resolutions to censure King for his remarks, and Assistant House Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) called King's comments "blatantly racist," adding, "this needs to stop. Enough with him getting away this stuff. This is nonsense."