The Squad

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About

The Squad is a nickname given to the group of four progressive freshman congresswomen Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) who have an active social media presence and are known for their far-left stance that challenges even their own party.

Origin

On November 12th, 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted a photo to Instagram^[1] with fellow congresswomen Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley at the VoteRunLead's Women and Power Town Hall captioning the image "squad" (shown below). The image gained over 207,700 likes in eight months.

Spread

The Squad members came to be known as a separate liberal force within congress who seem to be at odds with moderate democrats and republicans. The group has been labeled progressive for challenging their own party and speaker Nancy Pelosi has been known to be at odds with individual members and of the Squad and the group as a whole.^[3]^[7] Twitter user @joshjame^[4] quoted Speaker Pelosi saying that the squad ⁦ “have their public whatever and their Twitter world. But they didn’t have any following. They’re four people and that’s how many votes they got" (shown below, left). The tweet gained over 7,800 likes and 2,900 retweets in 11 days. @AOC^[5] responded by tweeting, "That public “whatever” is called public sentiment. And wielding the power to shift it is how we actually achieve meaningful change in this country" (shown below, right). The tweet garnered over 75,200 likes and 12,400 retweets in 11 days.

Josh Jamerson ajoshjame Speaker Pelosi says @AOC, @llhanMN, @AyannaPressley and @RashidaTlaib "have their public whatever and their Twitter world. But they didn't have any following. They're four people and that's how many votes they got." Opinion It's Nancy Pelosi's Parade "If the left doesn't think I'm left enough, so be it," she told me. nytimes.com 2:16 PM -6 Jul 2019

Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez GAOC That public "whatever" is called public sentiment And wielding the power to shift it is how we actually achieve meaningful change in this country Josh Jamerson @joshjame Speaker Pelosi says @AOC, GlhanMN, AyannaPressley and RashidaTlaib "have their public whatever and their Twitter world. But they didn't have any following They're four people and that's how many votes they got." nytimes.com/2019/07/06/opi. 5:49 PM -6 Jul 2019

Trump's "Go Back" Tweet

On July 14th, 2019 President Donald Trump^[2] tweeted a long message to "'Progressive' Democrat Congresswomen" saying essentially if they hate America they should go back to the catastrophic countries they came from (shown below, left). The tweets gained upwards of 208,500 likes and 48,400 retweets in three days. That day, Speaker Nancy Pelosi^[6] who is usually at odds with the squad defended them by tweeting, " When @realDonaldTrump tells four American Congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to 'Make America Great Again' has always been about making America white again. Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power" (shown below, right). The tweet gained over 185,200 likes and 48,600 retweets in three days.

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump So interesting to see "Progressive" Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly... 5:27 AM - 14 Jul 2019 Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump Jul 14 ...and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be nrun. Why don't they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how... Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump Jul 14 .it is done. These places need your help badly, you can't leave fast enough I'm sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!

Nancy Pelosi @SpeakerPelosi When @realDonaldTrump tells four American Congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to "Make America Great Again" has always been about making America white again Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power. Donald J. Trump GrealDonaldTrump So interesting to see "Progressive" Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most comupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly.. Show this thread 7:16 AM - 14 Jul 2019

On July 15th, 2019, NBC News uploaded a taping of a press conference with the Squad commenting on Trump's tweets (shown below, left).^[8] On July 17th, Stephen Colbert commented on the Squad, Pelosi and Trump on his late night show (shown below, right). The video gained over 255,400 views on YouTube in a day.

The Simpsons "West Wing Story"

On August 20th, 2019, the Animation on FOX YouTube channel uploaded a The Simpsons parody of the musical West Side Story titled "West Wing Story," in which President Trump is chased down by the Squad set to the tune of the song "America" (shown below).