New Mexico Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, sent a letter to President Donald Trump declining his invitation to the White House for a Hispanic Heritage Month reception, saying his rhetoric, actions and policies are all against what the month stands for.
“The hypocrisy of attending a reception that is supposed to honor their [Hispanics immigrants] contributions and heritage after your administration has threatened their safety and uprooted their lives is glaring,” Lujan Grisham’s letter read, which she also posted on Twitter.
Lujan Grisham aired her disagreements with Trump’s policies, tweets and rhetoric, saying, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Thanks, but no thanks.
I decline your invitation to attend your Hispanic Heritage Month White House reception.
Your rhetoric, actions & policies betray the values upon which #HHM was founded.
Let me explain…
–@RepLujanGrisham pic.twitter.com/PVxWzv1Jq5
— Hispanic Caucus (@HispanicCaucus) September 14, 2018
She also accused Trump of demonizing and dehumanizing the Hispanic community.
Your policies harming the Hispanic community evolved from your rhetoric. During your presidential campaign and as president, you demonized and dehumanized the Hispanic community and spread fear and untruths. /9
— Hispanic Caucus (@HispanicCaucus) September 14, 2018
Lujan Grisham, who is also running in the state’s gubernatorial race, hit on Trump’s claims that the death toll numbers from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico were false.
Trump on Thursday said the claim that 3,000 people died was an effort “by Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible.”
…..This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2018
Lujan Grisham said in her letter that he is wrong, and his words are unbecoming of a president.
“You have ignored and recently tweeted lies about the devastation and loss of life in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria, compared immigration to an infestation, and attacked a judge because of his Hispanic heritage,” she said.
“That rhetoric is not only unbecoming of the President of the United States; it has no place in American political discourse,” Lujan Grisham added. (RELATED: Dems Aren’t Doing As Well With Hispanics As They Thought They Would)
The Hispanic Caucus is made up of 30 Democratic members of the House whose goal is to voice and advance issues affecting Hispanics in the U.S. through legislation, its official website says.
A Harvard CAPS/Harris poll from June 27 revealed that Trump’s approval rating was rising in part by a 10-point spike in Hispanic approval.
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