Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee defended himself against allegations of “racism” on Saturday after he posted a tweet jokingly referring to a picture of MS-13 members as Nancy Pelosi’s “campaign committee for the take back of the House.”

Here’s the tweet in question:

Nancy Pelosi introduces her campaign committee for the take back of the House. pic.twitter.com/yKDhkVubck — Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 23, 2018

Several liberal tweeters used Huckabee’s post to try to characterize him as a racist.

What would Jesus do? Not be a racist asshole. @GovMikeHuckabee https://t.co/I4z1J2MyqD — Ellen Page (@EllenPage) June 23, 2018

Dear Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee): I am a Vice Chair of the Campaign Committee to take back the House. It’s going swell & Dems are way up in the polls. Also, I served on active duty to defend bigots like you that engage in raging, hateful, racist speech. In Christ, Ted https://t.co/KhqWJ0xpeq — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 23, 2018

This tweet is not “racially charged”. It’s not “racially divisive”. It’s not “racialist”, or “sparking racial controversy.” This tweet is straight up racist and the media should call it so. https://t.co/RAaMQFt6sY — Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) June 23, 2018

This sort of racist dog-whistling sickens God, Huckabee. You’re a disgrace to your faith. https://t.co/QwxAuLDNII — Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) June 23, 2018

I know we’re cautioned to go easy on the Nazi parallels, but this is too clear an example. This is no different from a Nazi-era cartoon of criminal Jews. Huckabee should be ostracized and ashamed. https://t.co/lmMzU75XKP — Adam Davidson (@adamdavidson) June 23, 2018

Washington Post columnist Karen Tumulty tweeted a picture of Huckabee’s MS-13 tweet juxtaposed with one in which the former Arkansas governor accused the Red Hen’s ownership of bigotry for turning away his daughter, Sarah Sanders, because of her job working with President Trump. (RELATED: Fox News Panel, Others Condemn Restaurant For Kicking Sarah Sanders Out)

Are these two people who call themselves @GovMikeHuckabee the same guy? pic.twitter.com/CSX8hTzAMT — Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) June 23, 2018

To which Huckabee responded by tweeting that “MS-13 is not a race,” but rather a murderous gang that “Nancy Pelosi defended.”

“Are you defending them too?” Huckabee asked. “Wasn’t aware that criminal was a ‘race.'”

Yes @ktumulty because MS-13 is not a race but an illegal gang who rapes, murders, and mutilates children as sport. Nancy Pelosi defended them because she said @realDonaldTrump insulted them. Are you defending them too? Wasn’t aware that criminal was a “race.” https://t.co/qjmELJuYAm — Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 23, 2018

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