Rep. Steve Cohen Stephen (Steve) Ira CohenTennessee Rep. Steve Cohen wins Democratic primary Democrats exit briefing saying they fear elections under foreign threat Texas Democrat proposes legislation requiring masks in federal facilities MORE (D-Tenn.) during a closed-door caucus meeting on Tuesday pushed to censure President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE for his tweets telling four progressive congresswomen to "go back" to their countries, going a step further than the resolution condemning the president that is up for a vote later in the day.

Cohen introduced a resolution late Monday night to censure Trump, arguing the formal rebuke should be stronger than the resolution from Rep. Tom Malinowski Thomas (Tom) MalinowskiDCCC reserves new ad buys in competitive districts, adds new members to 'Red to Blue' program The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - First lady casts Trump as fighter for the 'forgotten' Hillicon Valley: Lawmakers introduce resolution condemning QAnon | US Cyber Command leader vows to 'defend forward' in protecting nation from cyberattacks MORE (D-N.J.), who was born in Poland, that "strongly condemns President Donald Trump’s racist comments."

During the Democratic caucus meeting, Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Trump signs largely symbolic pre-existing conditions order amid lawsuit MORE (D-Calif.) spoke in defense of the four progressive freshmen. She also argued that the Malinowski resolution had a chance of drawing GOP support.

ADVERTISEMENT

"These are our sisters. The fact is, as offended as we are, and we are offended by what he said about our sisters. He says that about people every day and they feel as hurt as we do about somebody in our family having this offense against them," Pelosi said, according to an aide in the room.

"This is, I hope, one where we will get Republican support," Pelosi said of Malinowski's resolution. "If they can't support condemning the words of the president, well, that's a message in and of itself."

But Cohen dismissed that argument.

"The truth is I'm not worried about getting Republicans. I think we ought to do what's right, and what is moral and ethically right. What he has done is reprehensible," Cohen said after the House Democratic Caucus meeting.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries Hakeem Sekou JeffriesDemocratic leaders: Supreme Court fight is about ObamaCare Pelosi: House will stay in session until agreement is reached on coronavirus relief Races heat up for House leadership posts MORE (D-N.Y.) also said that condemning, rather than censuring, Trump had the most support.

ADVERTISEMENT

"The decision has been made by leadership with the full support of the overwhelming majority of the House Democratic Caucus, that this is the right approach to take at this moment. There will be accountability measures that we'll have to consider as we move forward. But at the moment that we're in right now, we want the strongest vote possible, and we're hopeful that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle would put country ahead of party, would put decency ahead of Donald Trump. Let's see what happens on the floor later on this evening," Jeffries said.

Cohen's resolution had nine co-sponsors upon its introduction on Monday, but he said that several more lawmakers had approached him about co-sponsoring it on Tuesday morning. The co-sponsors include the four freshman progressive lawmakers targeted by Trump: Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline McCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid MORE (N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley Ayanna PressleyFauci, Black Lives Matter founders included on Time's 100 Most Influential People list Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' Pressley applauded on House floor after moving speech on living with alopecia MORE (Mass.), Ilhan Omar Ilhan OmarOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' Democrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise MORE (Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib Rashida Harbi TlaibTrump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' George Conway: 'Trump is like a practical joke that got out of hand' Pelosi endorses Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate primary challenge MORE (Mich.). Omar, who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia, is the only one of the four who was born in another country.

Malinowski on Tuesday defended his resolution, telling reporters that it is "the way to go."

"Let's focus on these comments that the vast majority of Americans recognize to be divisive and racist," Malinowski said. "Right now what we can unite around is that what the president said is wrong, un-American and dangerous."

While some Democrats, like Cohen, are pushing for censure, Malinowski's resolution is still expected to get unanimous support from Democrats on the floor later Tuesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Some rank-and-file GOP lawmakers have pushed back against Trump's tweets, but only two House Republicans — Reps. Will Hurd William Ballard HurdHillicon Valley: Oracle confirms deal with TikTok to be 'trusted technology provider' | QAnon spreads across globe, shadowing COVID-19 | VA hit by data breach impacting 46,000 veterans House approves bill to secure internet-connected federal devices against cyber threats House Democrats' campaign arm reserves .6M in ads in competitive districts MORE (Texas) and Mike Turner Michael Ray TurnerHispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses slate of non-Hispanic candidates Overnight Defense: Trump announces 'snapback' of sanctions on Iran | Uniformed personnel at Dem convention under investigation | Netanyahu calls reported F-35 deal 'fake news' Democrats go big on diversity with new House recruits MORE (Ohio) — explicitly called them racist. Most Republicans haven't gone as far, making it less likely that they'd be willing to vote for Malinowski's resolution, which labels Trump's comments racist.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyMcCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power McCarthy claims protests in Louisville, other cities are 'planned, orchestrated events' MORE (R-Calif.) said at a Tuesday press conference that he will be urging Republicans to vote against the resolution of condemnation. When asked if Trump's comments were racist, McCarthy replied, "No."

"It's all politics," McCarthy said.

House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) also spoke up during the closed-door Democratic caucus meeting to caution lawmakers to be careful with their words during floor debate because Republicans will likely try to have them taken down from the record because of a rule stating that members shouldn't engage in personal attacks on the president. McGovern suggested that lawmakers check with the House parliamentarian about what language is acceptable during floor debate.

"I'm not," Pelosi said, drawing laughter.

Updated at 11:26 a.m.