I’ve often said that Republican elected officials can’t be expected to respond to every comment by the President. But there are times when the President's comments are so vile and offensive that it is incumbent on Republicans to respond and condemn. This is one of those times. — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) July 15, 2019

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Flake was one of Trump's fiercest critics among Republican lawmakers before he retired at the end of the last Congress, clashing with the president on high-profile topics including immigration policy.

He tweeted separately on Sunday about Trump's comments, saying "we're all Americans, Mr. President."

Trump sparked outrage on Sunday when he targeted a group of unidentified progressive congresswomen "who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe."

In the tweets, which appeared to be directed at Reps.(D-N.Y.),(D-Minn.),(D-Mich.) and(D-Mass.), the president suggested they "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came."