Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff on Monday defended President Donald Trump’s demand that four members of Congress “go back” to some other country, insisting that Trump’s intent was in no way racist.

As evidence, Pence aide Marc Short cited Trump’s Cabinet, which includes Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who was born in Taiwan and came to the U.S. as a child.

“So, when people write that the president has racist motives here, it’s just, look at the reality at who’s actually serving in Donald Trump’s Cabinet,” Short told Fox News’ Dagen McDowell.

Chao, he pointed out, didn’t speak English when she came to the U.S. and became a naturalized citizen. She’s married to Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).