Rep. Steve King defends controversial tweet

Rep. Steve King on Monday doubled down on a controversial tweet while Republican leaders condemned the statement.

The Iowa Republican tweeted on Sunday a suggestion that Muslim children are preventing “our civilization” from being restored. The tweet was intended as a gesture of support to Geert Wilders, a far-right candidate for prime minister in the Netherlands widely interpreted as racist.

The message drew criticism from across the political spectrum Sunday, although it was praised by white supremacist Louisiana politician David Duke.

Early Monday, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released a statement disagreeing with King and condemning Duke.

“First of all, I do not agree with Congressman King's statement. We are a nation of immigrants, and diversity is the strength of any nation and any community,” Kaufmann said. “Regarding David Duke, his words and sentiments are absolute garbage. He is not welcome in our wonderful state.”

King, though, on Monday said he "meant exactly what I said" in an interview with CNN.

"You cannot rebuild your civilization with somebody else's babies," King said in the CNN interview. "You've got to keep your birth rate up, and that you need to teach your children your values. In doing so, you can grow your population, you can strengthen your culture, and you can strengthen your way of life."

Kaufmann wasn't the only one to distance himself from Sunday's comment.

On Monday morning, Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, tweeted messages that seemed to rebut King.

"America is not about any one color, or one ethnicity, or one faith,” Young wrote. “America is about self-government, the rule of law, freedom, and the liberties and rights given in our Constitution."

When asked about the statement during his weekly news conference Monday morning, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad condemned King’s tweet as "totally inappropriate" and said he believed "it has no place" in political discourse.

“I disagree with what Steve King had to say and we certainly don’t want David Duke or his kind to come to Iowa,” Branstad said.

Additionally, House Speaker Paul Ryan's office said he did not agree with King's comments.

"The speaker clearly disagrees and believes America's long history of inclusiveness is one of its greatest strengths," spokesperson AshLee Strong said in a statement.

Contributing: Jessica Estepa, USA TODAY