Trump accuses Muslim congresswoman of ‘hatred for Jewish people’ as she says Republicans are trying to ‘ignite vile attacks’

‘Can you imagine what would happen if I ever said what she said, and says?’

Donald Trump has accused Muslim congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of having “tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people” – hours after she said that Republicans were trying to “ignite vile attacks” against her over comments made in a podcast interview.

The president described comments the progressive freshman made in the interview as “horrible” and “highly insensitive”, after she claimed her ancestors created “a safe haven for Jews” following the end of the Holocaust.

“Democrat [Representative] Tlaib is being slammed for her horrible and highly insensitive statement on the Holocaust,” Mr Trump tweeted on Monday. “She obviously has tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people.”

He added: “Can you imagine what would happen if I ever said what she said, and says?”

The president was referring to a Friday interview with Ms Tlaib on Yahoo’s Skullduggery podcast, in which the politician discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and criticised Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has become close to Mr Trump since he was elected to the White House in 2016.

“There’s always kind of a calming feeling when I think of the tragedy of the Holocaust, that it was my ancestors – Palestinians – who lost their land and some lost their lives, their livelihood, their human dignity and their existence, in many ways, has been wiped out … in the name of trying to create a safe haven for Jews, post-Holocaust, post-tragedy and the horrific persecution of Jews across the world at that time,” Ms Tlaib said. “And I love the fact that it was my ancestors that provided that in many ways.”

Ms Tlaib has said she does not support a two-state solution under Mr Netanyahu due to the prime minister’s current doctrine, acknowledging her stance could change if he “gets up tomorrow morning and decides: ‘I’m going to take down the walls, I’m not going to expand settlements, enough is enough.’”

The comments immediately sparked backlash online, with one well-known Imam lashing out against Ms Tlaib on Twitter, writing: “You’re the guest here, not the Jewish people.”

Ms Tlaib has since said her remarks were miscategorised by Republicans purposefully smearing her.

“Policing my words, twisting & turning them to ignite vile attacks on me will not work,” the Democrat wrote on Twitter.

“All of you who are trying to silence me will fail miserably,” she continued. “I will never allow you to take my words out of context to push your racist and hateful agenda. The truth will always win.”