Native American rep hits Trump: ‘Pocahontas’ remark ‘insensitive and unnecessary’

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), one of two Native Americans in Congress, said Tuesday that it was “insensitive and unnecessary” for President Trump to call Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) “Pocahontas” during a ceremony for Native American veterans.

“This sort of language offends a much larger group of people and should be avoided,” Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, told The Oklahoman.

”It is my hope that in the future we can all remain mindful of our native communities and continue to respect their heritage and rights as fellow citizens of the United States. It is also my hope that we can dial back the rhetoric in Washington, D.C., and refer to our partisan counterparts in language that is respectful and courteous,” he added.

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Trump has regularly referred to Warren as “Pocahontas” since the campaign trail and used the mocking nickname again during an Oval Office ceremony honoring Navajo Code Talkers on Monday.

“You were here long before any of us were here,” Trump said. “Although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas.”

Warren quickly fired back at Trump, saying he used a “racial slur.”

“It is deeply unfortunate that the president of the United States cannot even make it through a ceremony honoring these heroes without having to throw out a racial slur,” Warren said.

The president of the Navajo Nation, Russell Begaye, said Tuesday that “the way it was used” made Trump’s use of the name a racial slur.

The White House defended Trump’s comment on Monday, arguing it was not a racial slur and instead aimed at Warren’s past claim of Native American ancestry.