Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) Refuses White House Invitation to Join Trump’s El Paso Visit

Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) has denied the White House’s offer to join President Donald Trump’s visit to El Paso this afternoon, citing the president’s “racist and hateful” words, and inability to open up a dialogue about the damage his rhetoric has done to the community.

The freshman Democrat publicly declined the invitation in a Twitter thread on Tuesday, writing: “I declined the invitation because I refuse to be an accessory to his visit. I refuse to join without a dialogue about the pain his racist and hateful words & actions have caused our community and country.”

Escobar explained that she “requested a phone call” with Trump to share stories from her constituents about Saturday’s attack, and to discuss acknowledging the powerful consequences his hurtful rhetoric has on the Mexican and immigrant communities. Escobar was told that the president was “too busy” to have that conversation.

The president visited the families and victims of Friday’s attack in Dayton, Ohio, Wednesday afternoon just hours after quoting a conservative television news outlet’s tweet that the Dayton shooter “had a history of supporting political figures like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and ANTIFA.” Hot on the trail of attacking former Texas representative Beto O’Rourke on Twitter for having a “phony name to indicate Hispanic heritage,” Trump is scheduled to visit El Paso later this afternoon.

Instead of accompanying Trump on the latter visit, Escobar noted she would be “spending time with fellow El Pasoans who are dealing with the pain and horror left in the wake of this act of domestic terrorism fueled by hate and racism.”

The White House invited me to join @realDonaldTrump during his visit to El Paso. My response was clear. I requested a phone call with him today in order to share what I have now heard from many constituents, including some who are victims of Saturday’s attack.

— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) August 6, 2019

My message would’ve been that he needs to understand that his words are powerful and have consequences. Using racist language to describe Mexicans, immigrants and other minorities dehumanize us. Those words inflame others.

— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) August 6, 2019

The domestic terrorist who came to El Paso to kill innocent people had his sights set on Hispanics and immigrants. He took 22 lives, injured more than two dozen.

— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) August 6, 2019

I have publicly said he has a responsibility to acknowledge the power of his words, apologize for them, and take them back because they are still hanging over us. I asked for a call so I could say this to him over the phone and ask for a dialogue that could lead to healing.

— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) August 6, 2019

I was told that @realDonaldTrump is “too busy” to have that conversation.

I declined the invitation because I refuse to be an accessory to his visit. I refuse to join without a dialogue about the pain his racist and hateful words & actions have caused our community and country.

— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) August 6, 2019

Tomorrow, I will again be spending time with fellow El Pasoans who are dealing with the pain and horror left in the wake of this act of domestic terrorism fueled by hate and racism.

Join #ElPasoStrong: https://t.co/CVLa38NJBf

— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) August 6, 2019