Pence says Trump 'might' speak out if rally crowd chants 'send her back' again | TheHill - The Hill

Vice President Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard Pence Apollo 11 reminds America what unity really means Trump steps up attacks on 'Squad' after post-rally furor Trump is missing an opportunity in Hong Kong MORE said in a new interview that President TrumpDonald John Trump Liz Cheney: 'Send her back' chant 'inappropriate' but not about race, gender Booker: Trump is 'worse than a racist' Top Democrat insists country hasn't moved on from Mueller MORE "might" speak out if a rally crowd breaks into a "send her back" chant targeting Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan Omar Liz Cheney: 'Send her back' chant 'inappropriate' but not about race, gender Booker: Trump is 'worse than a racist' Chris Wallace presses Stephen Miller on 'send her back' chant at Trump rally MORE (D-Minn.) again.

Pence made the comments just days after a crowd in North Carolina repeatedly chanted the phrase while Trump attacked Omar, a Somalian refugee who arrived in the U.S. with her family as a child.

"The president wasn’t pleased about it and neither was I," Pence said in an interview with CBS News' White House correspondent Major Garrett. "And the president’s been very clear about that. But we’re also not pleased about is the fact that there are four members of Congress who are engaging in outrageous statements."

Garrett interjected, noting the tight relationship Trump has with his supporters and how he could could impact their actions in the future.

"This could all go away with one simple word. Or a phrase or something. You have a chance to say it right now. Don’t do it again. Is that your message," Garret said, prompting Pence to respond that the "president was very clear."

"Was he?" Garrett asked.

"[The president was very clear] that he wasn’t happy about it, and that if it happened again he might, he might make an effort to speak out about it," Pence said, adding later that Trump has already said he would speak out.

He went on to argue that "that millions of Americans share the president’s frustration about sitting members of Congress engaging in that kind of reckless rhetoric, whether it be anti-Semitic rhetoric, whether it be referring to border patrol agents as running concentration camps, and the president thought it was important to stand up to them."

Trump last week sparked an uproar by telling four freshman House lawmakers — Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez Ocasio-Cortez tears into Trump's immigration agenda: 'It's about ethnicity and racism' George Takei: US has hit a new low under Trump #IStandWithErica trends after Georgia Democratic lawmaker says she was told to 'go back where you came from' MORE (N.Y.), Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi Tlaib Liz Cheney: 'Send her back' chant 'inappropriate' but not about race, gender Chris Wallace presses Stephen Miller on 'send her back' chant at Trump rally Trump campaign aide says president 'a compassionate man' and 'not a racist' MORE (Mich.) and Ayanna PressleyAyanna Pressley Liz Cheney: 'Send her back' chant 'inappropriate' but not about race, gender Trump campaign aide says president 'a compassionate man' and 'not a racist' Trump campaign aide defends tweets: Congresswomen made 'very disturbing statements' MORE (Mass.) — to "go back" the "crime infested places" they came from.

The House on Tuesday voted to condemn the remarks as racist. Four GOP lawmakers, as well as Independent Rep. Justin AmashJustin Amash Liz Cheney: 'Send her back' chant 'inappropriate' but not about race, gender Trump doubles down, says progressive congresswomen 'should apologize to America' ESPN reminds employees to avoid political talk after host blasts Trump: report MORE (Mich.), joined every Democrat in approving the resolution.

Just a day later, a crowd in North Carolina chanted "send her back" as Trump targeted Omar. Trump said that he disagreed with the chants.

Asked why he didn't try to stop the chants, the president said that he "started speaking very quickly" to silence it. Video shows he paused for about 13 seconds after the chants began.

Trump has, meanwhile, adamantly stood by his remarks about the congresswomen, claiming on Sunday that they are not "capable" of loving the United States.

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