Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezWhy Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence The Hill Interview: Jerry Brown on climate disasters, COVID-19 and Biden's 'Rooseveltian moment' House Democrats postpone vote on marijuana decriminalization bill MORE (D-N.Y.) criticized Republican lawmakers on Sunday, including for their response to Rep. Steve King Steven (Steve) Arnold KingGOP leader: 'There is no place for QAnon in the Republican Party' Loomer win creates bigger problem for House GOP Win by QAnon believer creates new headaches for House GOP MORE's (R-Iowa) comments about white supremacy.

" 'Seeds.'Out of the minority of seats they have in Congress, the GOP allowed a white supremacist to represent ~700,000 people," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, referring to King. She was citing an opinion piece in The Washington Post titled, "The GOP must stamp out the seeds of hatred before it's too late."

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"Republicans won’t even censure him," she continued. "They also protect a president who can’t bring himself to condemn neo-Nazis. Those aren’t seeds. They’re redwoods."

“Seeds.”



Out of the minority of seats they have in Congress, the GOP allowed a white supremacist to represent ~700,000 people.



Republicans won’t even censure him.



They also protect a president who can’t bring himself to condemn neo-Nazis.



Those aren’t seeds.

They’re redwoods. https://t.co/BhOE9CDRzD — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 13, 2019

Her comments come just days after King questioned why terms like "white nationalist" and "white supremacist" became offensive in an interview with The New York Times.

“White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” King, who has represented Iowa's 4th Congressional District since 2013, asked. “Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?”

The comments prompted outrage from Democratic and Republican lawmakers, with many saying that the endorsement of such language had no place in Congress.

King sought to defend himself in the light of the backlash, saying in a statement Thursday that he rejected the "white supremacist" and "white nationalist" labels "and the evil ideology that they define."

He added that he considers himself "simply a nationalist."

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyTrump's sharp words put CDC director on hot seat House GOP leader says he trusts Trump over CDC director on vaccine timing The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine, masks MORE (R-Calif.) condemned King's comments on Sunday and vowed to take action.

"Action will be taken," McCarthy said on CBS's "Face The Nation." "I’m having a serious conversation with Congressman Steve King on his future and role in this Republican Party."

He did not give specifics, but talk of formally censuring the Iowa congressman has been floated as a potential option.

King has faced scrutiny over his comments on subjects such as immigration in the past. He once said that diversity is not America's strength.

Last year, he defended his association with a far-right Austrian group with links to Nazis, saying that “if they were in America ... they would be Republicans."