Four liberal US congresswomen of color (from left: Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley) have been the focus of several attacks by President Donald Trump and others (Brendan Smialowski)

Washington (AFP) – A Louisiana policeman was being investigated Monday for suggesting a liberal congresswoman should be shot, as President Donald Trump’s tweets attacking Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other lawmakers sparked a national uproar.

The officer’s Facebook post followed criticism that the president’s incendiary rhetoric, which continued Monday with a new tweet about the four “very racist” and “not very smart” Democratic congresswomen, was bordering on incitement to violence.

“This vile idiot needs a round…….and I don’t mean the kind she used to serve,” Charlie Rispoli, of the Gretna police department, wrote of former bartender Ocasio-Cortez, according to local media.

The post, which has been removed, prompted Gretna police chief Arthur Lawson to order an investigation, vowing that he was “not going to take this lightly,” according to Louisiana news site NOLA. 

Over the past week Trump has tweeted multiple attacks on Ocasio-Cortez and fellow first-term, ethnic minority lawmakers Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley.

The rhetoric provoked angry outcries from Democrats, and denunciations from some Republicans, as the parties gear up for an intense 2020 presidential race.

The four lawmakers — who have become known collectively as the “Squad” — appeared to be coming under increasing threat in the wake of Trump’s attacks.

The Illinois Republican County Chairmen’s Association branded them “The Jihad Squad” in a movie poster-style meme featuring the slogan “political jihad is their game.”

Omar and Tlaib are the first two Muslim women in Congress.

The poster, which has since been removed from the group’s page, shows Omar appearing to hold a large shotgun, while Pressley brandishes a pistol.

Association president Mark Shaw said he condemned the “unauthorized posting,” but then went on to criticize the “socialist” lawmakers for their politics.

The Cook County Democratic Party in Illinois accused the Republican group of perpetuating “lies and racism” and said such bigotry “has dangerous consequences.” 

But Trump downplayed his broader clash with the squad, telling reporters Monday “there’s no racial tension,” even as he insisted the lawmakers are “very bad for our country.”

A week earlier Trump tweeted that the women — all US citizens, three of whom were born in America — they should “go back” to other countries.

Days later, as he singled out Omar for criticism at a campaign rally, his supporters chanted “send her back!”

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.