1:14 PM PT -- Rep. Cleaver says he's disappointed his prayer has been "misinterpreted and misconstrued" by people like Trump Jr. to "fit a narrative that stokes resentment and greater division among portions of our population."
The Congressman calls his "amen and awoman" line a "light-hearted pun," and says it was "in recognition of the record number of women who will be representing the American people in Congress during this term as well as in recognition of the first female Chaplain of the House of Representatives."
Rep. Cleaver accuses those who criticized his pun of twisting his message and demeaning him, so he claims for his next prayer he will ask God for "strength to overcome these terrifyingly tribal times, and the courage to come together in an effort to heal the nation."
Donald Trump Jr. thinks it's "insane" the opening prayer for the new Congress ended with an "amen" AND an "awoman" -- but he's blaming the apparent case of wokeness gone too far on Democrats, in general.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver raised some eyebrows by ending his invocation Sunday for the 117th Congress with the gender-inclusive phrasing. Maybe the Congressman was joking -- if he was smiling his face mask covered it -- but the remark had DJT Jr. brushing up on his Latin.
He angrily tweeted ... "amen" simply means "so be it" in Latin -- though its origin is actually believed to be Hebrew -- and says it isn't a gendered word. So, he called out Cleaver for "being insane" with his prayer pun and asked his followers ... "Is this what you voted for?"
Other Republicans are taking shots too, including Rep. Guy Reschenthaler and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich ... who said, "House Democrat prayer ending as House Dems focus on gender security by abolishing virtually every normal gender term like "father. Mother"-the radical madness has begun."
So, there you have it ... please mentally and womentally prepare yourselves for the madness.
Originally Published -- 8:20 AM PT