American politician under fire over Wilders tweet

By Janene Pieters on March 13, 2017 - 08:11
Steve King
Steve King. Photo: U.S. Congress / Wikimedia Commons

American Republican Steve King, congressman for the state of Iowa, is facing social media outrage following a tweet in support of anti-Islam PVV leader Geert Wilders. 

"Wilders understands that culture and demographics are our destiny", King wrote on Twitter. "We can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies." According to the BBC, King is a strong advocate of ending birthright citizenship, which gives all babies born in the United States citizenship to the country, even if their parents live there illegally. 

The tweet led to outraged reactions. Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former president Bill Cliinton, called King's statement "painful". "Clearly the Congressman does not view all our children as, well, all our children. Particularly ironic and painful", she said on Twitter.

CIA operative Evan McMullin wondered whether the Republicans will condemn King's statement.  "Congressman Steve King promotes the un-American ideas of white nationalism. Will any Republican congressmen condemn this bigotry?"

Not all reactions to King's tweet were negative. Former Klu Klux Klan leader David Duke praised King's tweet with the words Sanity reigns supreme". He later also tweeted "God bless Steve King."

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