Paul Ryan’s tweet about being proud of Irish roots was not at all well received
He probably should have seen this coming.
With Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris agreement on climate change on Thursday dominating the news agenda, the fact that it was also the beginning of Immigrant Heritage Month may have been slightly overlooked.
No more than climate change, Trump’s views on immigration have been controversial to say the least in his brief time in office to date, so when the speaker in the House of Representatives took to Twitter to talk about his pride in his Irish roots, it was always likely to provoke a response.
My family's immigrant story is the same as many Americans and I've always been proud of my Irish roots. #ImmigrantHeritageMonth
— Paul Ryan (@PRyan) June 1, 2017
It probably didn’t help Ryan’s case that he spoke of his ties with Ireland on the same day that he publicly commended Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement, much to the chagrin of many, including influential leaders around the world.
Twitter isn't exactly an exact barometer of public opinion at the best of times, but by any standards, the response to Ryan's post was pretty brutal...
Perhaps you should return to Ireland.
— Ed Stensjo (@ed080850) June 1, 2017
We don't want him
— Gav (@miracleofsound) June 1, 2017
No one <wants> him. That's completely beside the point.
— Tami Sue, the Landlocked Kraken (@TweetieTami) June 1, 2017
lol nice try you spineless frog
— Mike Denison+ (@mikd33) June 1, 2017
I feel I must defend the reputation of frogs, spineless and otherwise.
— Craig Wilkins (@KeswickPinhead) June 1, 2017
You shame every irish person and every catholic with your unrelenting attack on common people
— jack mcgraw (@redmcgraw1) June 1, 2017
My grandparents came over from Ireland. My grandmother was "illegal" having come as a stowaway on a coal ship. I'm glad she wasn't deported.
— Ѕőмε Ĝůŷ (@MornMoor) June 1, 2017
The Irish were treated horribly in this country when they first started coming here. Now you do he same to other immigrants. Shameful.
— Živilee 🛹 (@zivinilee) June 1, 2017
Congratulations on pulling the ladder up behind you. Way to make your ancestors proud.
— ethereal tinkling (@pharmasean) June 1, 2017
We're not. Trust me. 🇮🇪
— Aisling 🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@Aisling_Pash) June 1, 2017
I wonder why your family left Ireland. Maybe they wanted jobs,had hopes, dreams. I wonder why someone from another place would want that too
— 🌷I’m a Nasty Woman🌷 (@tinahseattle) June 1, 2017