Dean Phillips Defends Rep. Rashida Tlaib: 'We Have Cried Together'

MINNESOTA — Rep. Dean Phillips on Thursday came to the defense of fellow Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib after she survived a censure in the U.S. House, saying they together "have a remarkable friendship."

"We honor our different lived experiences. We have cried together. We respect one another. And we have fundamental policy differences," Phillips said in a statement.

"The censure resolution was introduced by a Member of Congress who has a documented history of spewing hate speech, including antisemitic tropes, and *continues* to sympathize with January 6th insurrectionists. The censure was an irresponsible, shameful, and dangerous political stunt and I’m glad to see Democrats and Republicans joined hands to put an end to this damaging accusation."

Phillips is a strong supporter of Israel and has expressed dismay over the lack of progressive sympathy for Jewish people in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack.

Tlaib, a Palestinian-American, has criticized Israel's responding attacks on Gaza and in 2021 voted against funding for the Israeli "Iron Dome" missile defense system.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican, said she sponsored the resolution to censure Tlaib "for antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations, and leading an insurrection at the United States Capitol Complex."