Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) apologized on Twitter for saying that “Democrats are in love with terrorists” during a nationally televised interview earlier this week.
Collins made the comments Wednesday night during an interview on Fox Business. He was asked about the Democrats move to limit Trump’s War Powers in Iran after the president ordered a strike that killed Iran’s Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
“I didn’t think she could become more hypocritical than she was during impeachment, but guess what, surprise surprise, Nancy Pelosi does it again, and her Democrats fall right in line,” he said. “One, they’re in love with terrorists, we see that, they mourn Soleimani more than they mourn our Gold Star families who are the ones who suffered under Soleimani. That’s a problem.”
Collins immediately came under fire for the comments. But perhaps the strongest rebuke came from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a former Army lieutenant colonel, who lost both of her legs while serving in the war in Iraq.
“I’m not going to dignify that with a response,” Duckworth said during a CNN interview. “I left parts of my body in Iraq fighting terrorists. I don’t need to justify myself to anyone.”
Duckworth a similar comment on Twitter later in the day.
I left literal parts of my body in Iraq, where I was fighting terrorists.
— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) January 9, 2020
Donald Trump spent months attacking an ACTUAL Gold Star Family.@RepDougCollins should be ashamed of himself for perpetuating this offensive lie. https://t.co/cboW42lPSu
“Donald Trump spent months attacking an ACTUAL Gold Star Family,” Duckworth tweeted. “[Doug Collins] should be ashamed of himself for perpetuating this offensive lie.”
She followed that up with another tweet.
“In America, even people who disagree with the President vehemently can still love this country,” Duckworth added. “I love my country just as much as anyone on the other side of the aisle—it’s why I volunteered to serve in uniform, unlike Donald Trump.”
Collins apologized in a Twitter thread on Friday.
“Let me be clear, I do not believe Democrats are in love with terrorists, and I apologize for what I said earlier this week,” he tweeted.
“As someone who served in Iraq in 2008, I witnessed firsthand the brutal death of countless soldiers who were torn to shreds by this vicious terrorist. Soleimani was nothing less than an evil mastermind who viciously killed and wounded thousands of American.”
Let me be clear: I do not believe Democrats are in love with terrorists, and I apologize for what I said earlier this week. (1/5)
— Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) January 10, 2020
As someone who served in Iraq in 2008, I witnessed firsthand the brutal death of countless soldiers who were torn to shreds by this vicious terrorist. Soleimani was nothing less than an evil mastermind who viciously killed and wounded thousands of Americans. (3/5)
— Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) January 10, 2020
I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and with my fellow citizens to keep all Americans safe. (5/5)
— Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) January 10, 2020
“I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and with my fellow citizens to keep all Americans safe,” Collins said.