Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) asks questions during a House Oversight Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on February 27, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Aug 17, 2019
President Donald Trump on Friday night launched what critics condemned as a mocking and dehumanizing attack on Rep. Rashida Tlaib and her 90-year-old grandmother after the Michigan congresswoman refused to visit Israel under restrictive conditions set by the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Israel was very respectful and nice to Rep. Rashida Tlaib, allowing her permission to visit her 'grandmother,'" Trump tweeted. "As soon as she was granted permission, she grandstanded and loudly proclaimed she would not visit Israel. Could this possibly have been a setup? Israel acted appropriately!"
Observers were quick to note the president's use of scare quotes around grandmother, which journalist Mairav Zonszein said is "fully in line with the total dehumanization of Palestinians, to the point that you have literally erased their existence from your vile mind."
\u201cPutting "grandmother" in quotes is fully in line with the total dehumanization of Palestinians, to the point that you have literally erased their existence from your vile mind.\u201d— Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df (@Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df) 1565996206
"He really put 'grandmother' in quotes like Palestinians are incapable of having family members," added writer Rebecca Pierce.
Trump went on to claim that Tlaib's refusal to accept Israel's conditions for the trip--which included agreeing to not promote boycott activities--was a "complete setup" and suggest Tlaib's grandmother, who lives under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, might be happy not to see her granddaughter.
\u201cRep. Tlaib wrote a letter to Israeli officials desperately wanting to visit her grandmother. Permission was quickly granted, whereupon Tlaib obnoxiously turned the approval down, a complete setup. The only real winner here is Tlaib\u2019s grandmother. She doesn\u2019t have to see her now!\u201d— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1565995059
In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, Tlaib's grandmother, Muftiyah Tlaib, said she is proud of her granddaughter for acting on principle.
"Who wouldn't be proud of a granddaughter like that?" said Muftiyah Tlaib. "I love her and am so proud of her."
Asked about Trump's attacks on her granddaughter, Tlaib's grandmother said, "I don't know him. I don't care."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
President Donald Trump on Friday night launched what critics condemned as a mocking and dehumanizing attack on Rep. Rashida Tlaib and her 90-year-old grandmother after the Michigan congresswoman refused to visit Israel under restrictive conditions set by the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Israel was very respectful and nice to Rep. Rashida Tlaib, allowing her permission to visit her 'grandmother,'" Trump tweeted. "As soon as she was granted permission, she grandstanded and loudly proclaimed she would not visit Israel. Could this possibly have been a setup? Israel acted appropriately!"
Observers were quick to note the president's use of scare quotes around grandmother, which journalist Mairav Zonszein said is "fully in line with the total dehumanization of Palestinians, to the point that you have literally erased their existence from your vile mind."
\u201cPutting "grandmother" in quotes is fully in line with the total dehumanization of Palestinians, to the point that you have literally erased their existence from your vile mind.\u201d— Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df (@Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df) 1565996206
"He really put 'grandmother' in quotes like Palestinians are incapable of having family members," added writer Rebecca Pierce.
Trump went on to claim that Tlaib's refusal to accept Israel's conditions for the trip--which included agreeing to not promote boycott activities--was a "complete setup" and suggest Tlaib's grandmother, who lives under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, might be happy not to see her granddaughter.
\u201cRep. Tlaib wrote a letter to Israeli officials desperately wanting to visit her grandmother. Permission was quickly granted, whereupon Tlaib obnoxiously turned the approval down, a complete setup. The only real winner here is Tlaib\u2019s grandmother. She doesn\u2019t have to see her now!\u201d— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1565995059
In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, Tlaib's grandmother, Muftiyah Tlaib, said she is proud of her granddaughter for acting on principle.
"Who wouldn't be proud of a granddaughter like that?" said Muftiyah Tlaib. "I love her and am so proud of her."
Asked about Trump's attacks on her granddaughter, Tlaib's grandmother said, "I don't know him. I don't care."
President Donald Trump on Friday night launched what critics condemned as a mocking and dehumanizing attack on Rep. Rashida Tlaib and her 90-year-old grandmother after the Michigan congresswoman refused to visit Israel under restrictive conditions set by the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Israel was very respectful and nice to Rep. Rashida Tlaib, allowing her permission to visit her 'grandmother,'" Trump tweeted. "As soon as she was granted permission, she grandstanded and loudly proclaimed she would not visit Israel. Could this possibly have been a setup? Israel acted appropriately!"
Observers were quick to note the president's use of scare quotes around grandmother, which journalist Mairav Zonszein said is "fully in line with the total dehumanization of Palestinians, to the point that you have literally erased their existence from your vile mind."
\u201cPutting "grandmother" in quotes is fully in line with the total dehumanization of Palestinians, to the point that you have literally erased their existence from your vile mind.\u201d— Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df (@Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df) 1565996206
"He really put 'grandmother' in quotes like Palestinians are incapable of having family members," added writer Rebecca Pierce.
Trump went on to claim that Tlaib's refusal to accept Israel's conditions for the trip--which included agreeing to not promote boycott activities--was a "complete setup" and suggest Tlaib's grandmother, who lives under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, might be happy not to see her granddaughter.
\u201cRep. Tlaib wrote a letter to Israeli officials desperately wanting to visit her grandmother. Permission was quickly granted, whereupon Tlaib obnoxiously turned the approval down, a complete setup. The only real winner here is Tlaib\u2019s grandmother. She doesn\u2019t have to see her now!\u201d— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1565995059
In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, Tlaib's grandmother, Muftiyah Tlaib, said she is proud of her granddaughter for acting on principle.
"Who wouldn't be proud of a granddaughter like that?" said Muftiyah Tlaib. "I love her and am so proud of her."
Asked about Trump's attacks on her granddaughter, Tlaib's grandmother said, "I don't know him. I don't care."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.