President Trump is right that Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) is "being slammed" for what she said about the Holocaust. The rest of his interpretation is way off.
On Friday, Tlaib appeared on Yahoo's Skullduggery podcast and discussed how one aspect of the Israeli-Palestianian conflict gave her "a calming feeling ... when I think of the Holocaust," saying that at least Israel became "a safe haven for Jews" after it ended. Yet many Republicans snipped Tlaib's comment after "Holocaust," providing the misleading and incorrect interpretation that Trump shares below.
A look at what Tlaib actually said indicates that Trump is far from correct. She didn't say that the Holocaust gave her "a calming feeling," but rather that she gets that feeling when she thinks about why her "ancestors — Palestinians ... lost their land and some lost their lives." It was all "in the name of trying to create a safe haven for Jews" as they recovered from the Holocaust and other "horrific persecution," she said. The only problem is that "they did it in a way that took [the Palestianians'] human dignity away," Tlaib finished. In essence, Tlaib is saying she's happy that, if the Palestinians had to lose their land, at least it was for a good reason.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Tlaib issued a statement condemning the spin, which you can read below. Kathryn Krawczyk
-
September 1 editorial cartoonsCartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revoltSpeed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich throwerSpeed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodusSpeed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official saysSpeed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judgesSpeed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policingSpeed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa CookSpeed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportationSpeed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda
