Republican Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) jumped into the political fray Monday evening, weighing in on President Trump’s remarks to the Squad and confirming her belief that they were racist in nature.

When asked if she believed the president’s remarks – encouraging freshman Democrats who routinely criticize the U.S. to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” – were racist, she responded, “Yeah, I do.”

According to the Hill:

Asked if she thought Trump’s comments were specifically racist, Ernst acknowledged, “Yeah, I do.” She reiterated that view when asked on another occasion by a CNN reporter if she found Trump’s comments racist. “Uh, yeah. They’re American citizens,” she said, referring to Trump’s suggestion that Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), who all identify as racial minorities, go back to the counties they’re from.

Ernst, who faces reelection next year, said the GOP should “focus on policies.”

“We can debate those policies because I personally think the GOP has a stronger platform to talk about,” she said. “That’s what we should be focusing on.”

Ernst is one of the latest Republican lawmakers to condemn Trump’s remarks. Many GOP lawmakers – including Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Pat Toomey (R-PA) – released statements Monday, condemning Trump’s tweets.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), one of Trump’s main political adversaries on the right, came out with a particularly strong statement against the president.

He wrote:

The president’s comments were destructive, demeaning, and disunifying. The President of the United States has a unique and noble calling to unite the American people – of all different races, colors, and national origins. In that respect, the president failed badly. People can disagree over politics and policy, but telling American citizens to go back to where they came from is over the line.

The president’s comments were destructive, demeaning, and disunifying. The President of the United States has a unique and noble calling to unite the American people – of all different races, colors, and national origins. In that respect, the president failed badly. — Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) July 15, 2019

People can disagree over politics and policy, but telling American citizens to go back to where they came from is over the line. — Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) July 15, 2019

Trump has refused to back down from his remarks, making the case to the American people that Squad members are radical socialists who do not want the best for the U.S.

He tweeted:

We will never be a Socialist or Communist Country. IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY HERE, YOU CAN LEAVE! It is your choice, and your choice alone. This is about love for America. Certain people HATE our Country…. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2019

We will never be a Socialist or Communist Country. IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY HERE, YOU CAN LEAVE! It is your choice, and your choice alone. This is about love for America. Certain people HATE our Country…. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2019

….They are anti-Israel, pro Al-Qaeda, and comment on the 9/11 attack, “some people did something.” Radical Left Democrats want Open Borders, which means drugs, crime, human trafficking, and much more…. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2019

….Detention facilities are not Concentration Camps! America has never been stronger than it is now – rebuilt Military, highest Stock Market EVER, lowest unemployment and more people working than ever before. Keep America Great! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2019

The Dems were trying to distance themselves from the four “progressives,” but now they are forced to embrace them. That means they are endorsing Socialism, hate of Israel and the USA! Not good for the Democrats! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2019

The Dems were trying to distance themselves from the four “progressives,” but now they are forced to embrace them. That means they are endorsing Socialism, hate of Israel and the USA! Not good for the Democrats! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2019

Squad members – Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) – held a press conference Monday afternoon and used it to hit numerous leftist talking points – Trump’s purported racism, kids in cages, impeachment, etc.

Trump responded with two tweets, noting that the Obama administration “built the cages” and ending with a resounding call to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” in all caps:

The Obama Administration built the Cages, not the Trump Administration! DEMOCRATS MUST GIVE US THE VOTES TO CHANGE BAD IMMIGRATION LAWS. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2019