President Trump on Monday referred to Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE (D-Mass.) as “Pocahontas” at an event honoring Native American Code Talkers who served in World War II.

"You were here long before any of us were here,” Trump said, standing beneath a portrait of former President Andrew Jackson. “Although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas.”

Turning to the veterans, Trump said "but do you know what? I like you."

The president made the remark in the Oval Office standing beside three Navajos who helped the U.S. Marine Corps develop a secret code during WWII.

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The three Code Talkers did not react to Trump’s remark.

Trump has repeatedly used the derisive nickname to refer to Warren, poking fun at her claim of Native American heritage.

“This was supposed to be an event to honor heroes, people who put it all on the line for our country,” Warren said later on MSNBC. “It is deeply unfortunate that the president of the United States can’t even make it through a ceremony honoring these heroes without throwing out a racial slur.”

But Trump's top spokeswoman defended his comment, saying "Pocahontas" is not a racial slur.

“I think what most people find offensive is Sen. Warren lying about her heritage to advance her career," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters.

Trump during the event also referred to White House chief of staff John Kelly John Francis KellyMORE as “chief.”

“He’s the general and the chief,” the president said. “I said, how good were these code talkers? He said, 'Sir, you have no idea. You have no idea how great they were.’ ”

– This report was updated at 3:37 p.m.