The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) hit back at the White House for criticizing Rep. John Lewis John LewisDemocrats urge Biden to resist filibuster, court-packing calls Rep. Bill Pascrell named chair of House oversight panel The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden goes on offense MORE (D-Ga.) for deciding to skip the opening of a Mississippi civil rights museum.

The civil rights icon and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said Thursday he would also skip the opening of the museum over Trump's planned attendance, calling it an "insult" to the civil rights movement for the president to attend.

The White House responded later in the day, saying it is an "unfortunate" decision.

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“We think it’s unfortunate that these members of Congress wouldn’t join the president in honoring the incredible sacrifice civil rights leaders made to right the injustices in our history,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.

On Thursday, CBC chairman Rep. Cedric Richmond Cedric Levon RichmondRep. Bill Pascrell named chair of House oversight panel Rep. Cedric Richmond set to join House Ways and Means Committee Biden campaign ratchets up courting of Black voters, specifically Black men MORE (D-La.) responded to the White House statement.

“It’s laughable that the White House is criticizing Rep. John Lewis and Rep. Bennie Thompson Bennie Gordon ThompsonHouse panel pans ICE detention medical care, oversight Senate to hold nomination hearing for Wolf next week Hillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers MORE for not attending the opening of a civil rights museum that honors the sacrifice of ...wait... John Lewis, Bennie Thompson & many others."

.@RepRichmond: “It’s laughable that the @WhiteHouse is criticizing @repjohnlewis & Rep. @BennieGThompson for not attending the opening of a civil rights museum that honors the sacrifice of ...wait... John Lewis, Bennie Thompson & many others." #JohnLewis https://t.co/YAoQWSINho — Black Caucus (@OfficialCBC) December 7, 2017