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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accuses Donald Trump of 'relying on racism to consolidate power' amid race row

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has accused Donald Trump of "relying on racism and division to consolidate power" in the latest salvo in an ongoing race row.

Mr Trump has faced widespread backlash for telling Democratic congresswomen they should “go back where they came” in a Twitter tirade which has been denounced as “racist and disgusting”.

The president told the “progressives” to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” – ignoring the fact they are all American citizens and all but one was born in the US.

Although he didn’t mention them by name, the US president was almost certainly referring to high-profile Democratic congresswoman Ms Ocasio-Cortez and her allies in what has become known as “the squad”.

This includes Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib. Only Ms Omar, from Somalia, was not born in the US.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar pictured in February (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar pictured in February (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Ms Ocasio-Cortez, 29, who was born and raised in New York but is of Puerto Rican descent, has since told Sky News that she believes Mr Trump “relies on racism, division and anti-immigrant sentiment” to consolidate power.

She said: “It is unfortunate that he feels the way he feels about people of colour in this country, about immigrants in this country, naturalised citizens or not, and it's time to move on from him and his conception of an America that we have tried to move past for a long time.

"He relies on racism, division and anti-immigrant sentiment to consolidate power because he does not have a positive vision for the future of America."

US President Donald Trump (EPA)
US President Donald Trump (EPA)

She added: "I think there's a strategy to divide the country, because the more this country is divided, the more he benefits from it.

“He does not believe in a prosperous future for our country. He believes that everything is a threat."

It comes after Mr Trump tweeted on Sunday: “So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly......

“....and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how....

“....it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!”

Mr Trump's tweets drew a sharp rebuke from House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said the president wants to "make America white again."

Republican congressman Justin Amash, a vocal Trump critic, called the remarks "racist and disgusting”.

Ms Omar hit back on Twitter, accusing the president of “stoking white nationalism because you are angry that people like us are serving in Congress and fighting against your hate-filled agenda”.

Downing Street also made clear the Prime Minister's view of Mr Trump's comments.

"Her view is that the language which was used to refer to the women was completely unacceptable," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

Despite backlash over his rant, Mr Trump has continued criticising the congresswomen, writing in a follow-up tweet: “When will the Radical Left Congresswomen apologize to our Country, the people of Israel and even to the Office of the President, for the foul language they have used, and the terrible things they have said.

“So many people are angry at them & their horrible & disgusting actions! If Democrats want to unite around the foul language & racist hatred spewed from the mouths and actions of these very unpopular & unrepresentative Congresswomen, it will be interesting to see how it plays out."