A wave of Democratic presidential candidates took to Twitter this week to condemn 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 a series of tweets suggesting four nonwhite progressive congresswomen to “go back” to other countries "and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came."

Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.) on Sunday tweeted, “When I call the president a racist, this is what I'm talking about.”

When I call the president a racist, this is what I'm talking about



We must stand together for justice and dignity towards all. https://t.co/lweeJk7NoF — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 14, 2019

Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisHundreds of lawyers from nation's oldest African American sorority join effort to fight voter suppression Biden picks up endorsement from progressive climate group 350 Action 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing MORE (D-Calif.) called Trump's remarks an "un-American" and "racist attack." Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns 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 Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass.) added in her own tweet, “This *is* their country, regardless of whether or not Trump realizes it.”

Let's call the president’s racist attack exactly what it is: un-American. pic.twitter.com/fDeC5ka01F — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 14, 2019

Let’s be clear about what this vile comment is: A racist and xenophobic attack on Democratic congresswomen. This *is* their country, regardless of whether or not Trump realizes it. They should be treated with respect. As president, I’ll make sure of it. https://t.co/WupieDquLA — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 14, 2019

The series of rebukes from Democratic White House hopefuls came after the president sparked uproar on Sunday morning when he tweeted that unnamed progressive congresswomen "who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe" should "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came."

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Trump did not specify to which lawmakers he was referring, but the comments were widely interpreted as targeting 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 (D-N.Y.), 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 (D-Minn.), 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 (D-Mich.) and 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 (D-Mass.). All four are U.S. citizens, and only Omar, who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia, was born outside the U.S.

A number of other Democratic presidential contenders issued similar condemnations of Trump's remarks Monday as the president dug in on his attacks.

“Trump is obsessed with trying to make American [sic] HATE again,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Bill de BlasioOVERNIGHT ENERGY: California seeks to sell only electric cars by 2035 | EPA threatens to close New York City office after Trump threats to 'anarchist' cities | House energy package sparks criticism from left and right EPA threatens to close New York City office after Trump threats to 'anarchist' cities New Year's Eve in Times Square to be largely virtual amid pandemic MORE (D) tweeted, echoing comments he made Sunday to CNN’s Jake Tapper Jacob (Jake) Paul TapperThe media's misleading use of COVID-19 data Julia Louis-Dreyfus: 'We can't spend much time grieving' Ginsburg Pence aide dismisses concerns rushed vote on Trump nominee will hurt vulnerable senators MORE.

Trump is obsessed with trying to make American HATE again. https://t.co/by2jjc4gtG#RacistPresident — Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) July 15, 2019

“More than 24 hours have passed since Trump’s racist attacks on @IlhanMN, @AOC, @RashidaTlaib and @AyannaPressley, and not one Republican has stood up to condemn them. Shameful and embarrassing,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Jay Robert InsleeBarr asked prosecutors to explore charging Seattle mayor over protest zone: report Bottom line Oregon senator says Trump's blame on 'forest management' for wildfires is 'just a big and devastating lie' MORE (D) tweeted Monday.

More than 24 hours have passed since Trump’s racist attacks on @IlhanMN, @AOC, @RashidaTlaib and @AyannaPressley, and not one Republican has stood up to condemn them. Shameful and embarrassing. — Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) July 15, 2019

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro also spoke out strongly against the remarks on Monday on CNN’s “New Day.”

“It’s disgusting, it’s racist…everybody knows that the President acts like a white supremacist,” Castro said Monday.

“It’s disgusting, it’s racist…everybody knows that the President acts like a white supremacist,” 2020 Democratic presidential candidate @JulianCastro says about President Trump’s tweets attacking the progressive freshmen congresswomen.https://t.co/B4W6Mqyq4npic.twitter.com/17u2NCHTfw — New Day (@NewDay) July 15, 2019

Rep. Tim Ryan Timothy (Tim) RyanNow's the time to make 'Social Emotional Learning' a national priority Mourners gather outside Supreme Court after passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lincoln Project hits Trump for criticizing Goodyear, 'an American company' MORE (D-Ohio) called the tweets “racist, un-American and unpresidential,” while Rep. Seth Moulton Seth MoultonOvernight Defense: Nearly 500 former national security officials formally back Biden | 40 groups call on House panel to investigate Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Markey defeats Kennedy; Trump lauds America's enforcers in Wisconsin Moulton fends off primary challenges in Massachusetts MORE (D-Mass.) tweeted Sunday “The president thinks if you’re not white, you’re not an American,” adding that he believed there was a "constitutional duty" to impeach Trump.

“I don’t know what else to say but Donald Trump is a racist and a criminal and we have a constitutional duty to impeach him,” Moulton tweeted.

This is racist, un-American and unpresidential. pic.twitter.com/00NqWBpaSE — Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) July 15, 2019

The president thinks if you’re not white, you’re not an American. — Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) July 14, 2019

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper John HickenlooperThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Cook Political Report shifts Colorado Senate race toward Democrat Willie Nelson playing at virtual fundraiser for Hickenlooper MORE (D) added that Trump’s “racist and xenophobic comments" were "beneath the dignity of the presidency.”

.@realDonaldTrump's racist and xenophobic comments this week are beneath the dignity of the presidency. I'm glad to see the House taking swift action to condemn his hateful rhetoric. https://t.co/sDtwpn4R38 — John Hickenlooper (@Hickenlooper) July 15, 2019

Trump on Monday denied he was being racist and expressed no remorse when told that white nationalist groups found common cause with his message, adding that members of Congress “hate our country,” harbor hatred of Jews and love for terrorist groups and are “free to leave” the U.S. if they choose.

Ocasio-Cortez earlier on Monday had slammed Trump for using the "language of white supremacists" in telling a group of Democratic congresswomen that they should "go back" to the countries they came from.