Massachusetts

‘It's Just Wrong': Ayanna Pressley, Marty Walsh Respond to Trump's Latest Tweet

'I think we all have to not take the bait and get off the ride that the occupant of this Oval Office has us on,' Pressley said while in Roxbury on Sunday

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts has responded to President Donald Trump's most recent tweet aimed at her and three other Democratic Congresswomen of color.

Sunday morning, President Trump continued his attacks on Pressley, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, a week after a series of tweets directed at the same group ignited controversy and ended with a formal rebuke from the House of Representatives.

In his latest tweet, the president said, in part: “I don’t believe the four congresswomen are capable of loving our country. They should apologize to America....”

“I’m proud to be an American. I love this country," responded Pressley while attending an event in Roxbury. "I challenge it because I want it to live up to its ideals and its promises that it espouses, and I do that from a place of love.”

Pressley, who like the other three Congresswomen, is a United States citizen, says she won't allow Trump's tweets to get in her way.

“I think we all have to not take the bait and get off the ride that the occupant of this Oval Office has us on,” said Pressley. “Every tweet he sends is meant to be a distraction from the real problems that this country is facing.”

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, a Democrat, also chimed in on the latest Trump tweet, saying, “He interjected himself into something that had nothing to do with him. It’s just wrong, and to keep it going is crazy.”

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives voted to condemn Trump's last series of tweets that many called racist. It's unclear if that'll happen again,

"I don’t take any cues or directions from the occupant of this White House, except that he did tell me to come home," Pressley said of her return to Massachusetts, "and I sure am glad I did."

Pressley was in Roxbury for the city's unity parade and to receive an award from the community.

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