Barack Obama: “We have obligations to each other, and today, the United States is working with the nations of this hemisphere to meet…”

The effort, he said, “should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views.”

People need to “rediscover what’s the story we tell about how we’re going to live together, and see each other, and recognise each other, and disagree, and yet, still care for each other”.

The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views.

The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president.