Republican Iowa congressman Steve King isn't a stranger to controversial statements, but this one got a lot of attention over the weekend.
King was referring to a Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, who wants to end Muslim immigration and ban the Quran in the Netherlands.
King tweeted this:
Wilders understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies. https://t.co/4nxLipafWO
— Steve King (@SteveKingIA) March 12, 2017
That did not go over well on social media. Many people responded, calling his comments xenophobic and white supremacist. Even some of his colleagues spoke out, such as Republican Miami congressman Carlos Curbelo:
.@SteveKingIA What exactly do you mean? Do I qualify as "somebody else's baby?" #concernedGOPcolleague
— Carlos Curbelo (@carloslcurbelo) March 13, 2017
Democratic Taiwan-born representative Ted Lieu from California posted a picture of his two children, saying:
Dear Representative Steve King: These are my two babies. --Representative Ted Lieu pic.twitter.com/MHU21jJUrY
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 12, 2017
King's comments created even more outrage when white nationalist and former Ku Klux Klansman Dr. David Duke responded.
GOD BLESS STEVE KING!!! #TruthRISING https://t.co/oDFel8JDrP
— David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) March 12, 2017
King's comments have put him under harsh criticism before. In 2002, when discussing the racial makeup of the Republican Party during a panel discussion, King questioned what contributions had been made by non-whites.
News 13 has not been able to get a hold of King's office this morning for a comment.