President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters during his 'Made In America' product showcase at the White House in Washington on July 15, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

President Trump Thanks ‘Vicious Young Socialist Congresswomen’ for Rise in Approval Rating

President Donald Trump thanked several “progressive” Democratic congresswomen who he called out in a series of Twitter posts after a latest Rasmussen poll showed a four-point jump in his approval ratings.

“New Poll: The Rasmussen Poll, one of the most accurate in predicting the 2016 Election, has just announced that ‘Trump’ numbers have recently gone up by four points, to 50%,” Trump wrote in a Twitter post on July 17. “Thank you to the vicious young Socialist Congresswomen. America will never buy your act!”

New Poll: The Rasmussen Poll, one of the most accurate in predicting the 2016 Election, has just announced that “Trump” numbers have recently gone up by four points, to 50%. Thank you to the vicious young Socialist Congresswomen. America will never buy your act! #MAGA2020 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 17, 2019

According to the Rasmussen Poll, which Trump often cites, the president’s approval went up from 46 percent on July 15 to 50 percent on July 17, days after he accused four far-left members of the Democratic party—Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.)—of displaying anti-semitic and anti-American rhetoric.

Trump also had a five percentage point net approval increase to 72 percent among members of the Republican party, compared with a similar poll that ran last week, according to a recent Reuters-Ipsos public opinion poll.

The president ignited outrage after he unloaded several criticisms and accusations against the four “progressive” freshman lawmakers, known as the “squad,” between July 14 and 16.

His most notable post was one where he called on “‘progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen” to “go back” to their countries to help fix the “totally broken and crime-infested places” before returning to the United States to “show us how it is done.” Apart from Omar, who was born in Somalia, the other three lawmakers were born in the United States.

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

Many of Trump’s opponents denounced the comments, calling them racist. The four congresswomen also held a press conference on July 15 to publicly fight back against the president.

Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) speak at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 15, 2019. (Holly Kellum/NTD)

The Democrat-controlled House even passed a resolution to condemn the president’s remarks on July 16 largely on party lines.

Trump showed no signs of backing down when asked during a cabinet meeting also on July 16 about his Twitter posts and comments he made about the four freshman lawmakers.

“I think it’s terrible when people speak so badly about our country, when people speak so horribly. I have a list of things here—I’m not going to bore you with it because you would be bored. You wouldn’t write it anyway,” he said.

US President Donald Trump participates in a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington on July 16, 2019. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

He continued: “But I have a list of things here said by the congresswomen that [are] so bad, so horrible that I almost don’t want to read it, it’s so bad. I think what you [should] do is: You have the same list that I do. You should repeat some of that. When the Democrats didn’t want to mention the name of the congresswoman, not so long ago, and what they did and the way they’re treating Israel is a disgrace.”

“But not only Israel, it’s what they say about our country. It’s my opinion they hate our country. And that’s not good. It’s not acceptable,” he added.

The president also denied that his posts were racist, saying “Those Tweets were NOT Racist. I don’t have a Racist bone in my body,” while referring to the House resolution to condemn his comments.

Those Tweets were NOT Racist. I don’t have a Racist bone in my body! The so-called vote to be taken is a Democrat con game. Republicans should not show “weakness” and fall into their trap. This should be a vote on the filthy language, statements and lies told by the Democrat….. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2019

Reuters contributed to this report.