WASHINGTON — Freshman Rep. Jeff Van Drew, criticizing “shameful and disgusting” behavior on both sides, waded on Monday into the food fight between his fellow Democrats and President Donald Trump by telling them, “It is time to grow up.”

The latest name-calling began over the weekend when Trump told four of Van Drew’s House Democratic colleagues to go back to where they came from. The four were all women of color, and three of them, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, were born in the U.S. The fourth, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, emigrated from Somalia.

“Elected officials on both sides need to stop with the name calling and hateful statements," Van Drew said. "Instead of focusing on real issues, we have heard all manner of appalling remarks from those who would rather distract from them. It is time to grow up. This behavior is shameful and disgusting.”

Van Drew, D-2nd Dist., made his comments in a statement that was silent on both the contents of Trump’s comments and the blowback the president received from Democratic lawmakers, including several from New Jersey.

Since coming to Washington in January, Van Drew has looked for ways to demonstrate his independence from his fellow House Democrats, including declining to support Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s election as speaker and voting for some Republican procedural motions that normally are a test of party loyalty.

So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly...... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019

....it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019

Pelosi, D-Calif., tweeted that Trump’s comment “reaffirms his plan to 'Make America Great Again’ has always been about making America white again.”

And other Democrats responded in kind.

Unlike 3 of the "Democrat Congresswomen" Trump attacked today, I was actually born outside the US. Does he think I should go back?



This is exactly the sort of rhetoric that inspires disturbed people to violence, against Jews, Muslims, Sikhs - anyone they see as the "other." — Tom Malinowski (@Malinowski) July 14, 2019

Trump, who was accused of using anti-Semitic memes during his own campaign and said there were some “very fine people” among the neo-Nazis who marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017, doubled down on his comments Monday.

When will the Radical Left Congresswomen apologize to our Country, the people of Israel and even to the Office of the President, for the foul language they have used, and the terrible things they have said. So many people are angry at them & their horrible & disgusting actions! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2019

That drew a fresh round of Democratic criticism, with Pelosi saying the House Democratic caucus “will continue to forcefully respond to these disgusting attacks."

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., tweeted that Trump’s comments were “another vile, racist attack from the president,” and were “absolutely disgusting, and sure don’t reflect our American values.”

And U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who is seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, condemned the remarks on CNN.

“This is vile, vile trafficking in hatred and bigotry,” Booker said. “It will not work.”

Van Drew said it was time to stop the back and forth.

“We were elected to work together and help keep this country the greatest nation in the world," Van Drew said. "We have major issues to tackle and we keep blocking our own path to solving them. Enough is enough.”

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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