The White House is calling Republican Rep. Steve King’s comments about white supremacy “abhorrent,” distancing the administration from the prominent ally of President Trump.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised the move by House Republicans to strip the Iowa lawmaker of his committee assignments.
“Steve King’s comments were abhorrent, and the Republican leadership, unlike Democrats, have actually taken action when their members have said outrageous and inappropriate things,” Mrs. Sanders told reporters Wednesday.
Mr. King was quoted last week by The New York Times as saying: “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” He has said his comments were misconstrued.
The House approved a Democratic measure on Tuesday rebuking Mr. King, who is in his ninth term.
Mr. Trump said Monday of Mr. King’s comments, “I haven’t been following it.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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