Nancy Pelosi pushes back against Kevin McCarthy's allegations of antisemitism in statement of House GOP Leader

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy recently condemned Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s antisemitic remarks. However, in his statement supposedly condemning Greene, McCarthy went to criticize House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the antisemitic behavior in the Democratic Party.

Pelosi’s office has since issued a response to the allegations made by McCarthy in his statement that was initially supposed to be condemning Greene for likening mask-wearing to the Holocaust. McCarthy alleged that Pelosi was looking the other way when it came to the supposedly rising antisemitic behavior within the Democratic Party in an attempt to shift the blame. Pelosi’s office pushed back, saying that the House Speaker has always been speaking out against antisemitism and antisemitic attacks.

“Leader McCarthy waited days to even issue a statement in response to one of his members demeaning the Holocaust, and he clearly intends to continue to welcome Marjorie Taylor Greene in the GOP and shield her from any real consequence or accountability for her antisemitism,” said the statement from Pelosi’s office. “Leader McCarthy’s silence has spoken volumes about his allegiance to the most extreme elements of the GOP Conference.”

Greene’s statements comparing COVID-19 protocols to what Jews had to go through during the horrific Holocaust were met with intense backlash, including from Republican leadership aside from McCarthy. American Jewish Congress executive director Joel Rubin called for Greene’s expulsion from Congress after the antisemitic remarks. Greene has continued to double down on her comparisons even after facing backlash.

Many have also criticized McCarthy for issuing a very delayed response to denounce Greene’s antisemitic rhetoric.

In other news, Pelosi has extended her congratulations to Penpa Tsering, who was elected as the new Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration and reaffirmed the US support for Tibet. Pelosi is known for being an advocate for Tibetan causes in the US and has previously met with the Dalai Lama on several occasions.

“Now more than ever, your resolute voice and tireless leadership as Sikyong will be necessary to carry on this vital tradition and advance the cause of peace,” wrote Pelosi in a letter to Penpa Tsering dated May 25.