The only GOP politicians talking about Trump's racist tweets are defending them
 
 
Republicans are giving this presidential controversy a hard pass.
After President Trump tweeted a racist attack Sunday on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and three other Democratic congressmembers, a number GOP pundits used blogs and tweets to condemn him. Yet Republicans in office haven't said a word, and it's apparently because "history has said that this stuff goes away and that it’s not worth the potentially catastrophic political cost of weighing in against him," one Trump ally tells Axios.
More than 24 hours after Trump's tweets suggested these "'progressive' Democratic congresswomen" should "go back" to the countries "from which they came," only two Republicans in office had said anything on the matter. Trump's close ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) appeared on Fox & Friends on Monday morning, saying that the congressmembers Trump attacked "are a bunch of communists" who "hate America."
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.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) did tweet Sunday night that Trump "was wrong to say any American citizen ... has any 'home' besides the U.S." But he then said that "Reps who refuse to defend America should be sent home," and did not clarify what he meant by that.
But while Republicans in the U.S. are largely staying silent, even conservatives across the pond are not. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday condemned the tweets' "language" as "unacceptable," implying that the two conservatives campaigning for her spot should do the same, The Washington Post reports. Candidates Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt so far haven't done so.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
- 
 Testosterone therapy in women highlights the lack of women’s health research Testosterone therapy in women highlights the lack of women’s health researchThe explainer There is no FDA-approved testosterone product for women 
- 
 Magazine solutions - November 7, 2025 Magazine solutions - November 7, 2025Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 7, 2025 
- 
 Magazine printables - November 7, 2025 Magazine printables - November 7, 2025Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 7, 2025 
- 
 Senate votes to kill Trump’s Brazil tariff Senate votes to kill Trump’s Brazil tariffSpeed Read Five Senate Republicans joined the Democrats in rebuking Trump’s import tax 
- 
 Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICE Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICESpeed Read Half of the new ICE directors are reportedly from DHS’s more aggressive Customs and Border Protection branch 
- 
 Shutdown stalemate nears key pain points Shutdown stalemate nears key pain pointsSpeed Read A federal employee union called for the Democrats to to stand down four weeks into the government standoff 
- 
 Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan ad Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy 
- 
 NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footage NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges 
- 
 Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East Wing Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction 
- 
 Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 more Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters 
- 
 Trump demands millions from his administration Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations 
