Newt Gingrich Calls Robert De Niro First Lady Comments 'Inexcusable'

Newt Fires Back At De Niro's 'White First Lady' Joke

Newt Gingrich wants President Obama to apologize for a joke that Robert De Niro made at a campaign event Monday night.

"What De Niro said last night was inexcusable and the president should apologize for him," Gingrich told supporters in Shreveport, Louisiana, according to CNN. "It was at an Obama fundraiser, it is exactly wrong, it divides the country."

De Niro co-hosted the event with Michelle Obama at one of his New York City restaurants, and before the First Lady was introduced he made a quip about the GOP candidates' wives.

"Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white First Lady?" he asked the crowd. "Too soon, right?"

The Obama for America crowd had a good laugh, but Gingrich did not. On Tuesday the former House Speaker fired back at De Niro, dismissing him as a shortsighted Hollywood actor who "probably doesn't notice the price of gasoline."

"I do want to say one thing, both on behalf of my wife and on behalf of Karen Santorum and on behalf of Ann Romney, I think that Robert De Niro's wrong," he said. "I think the country is ready for a new first lady and he doesn't have to describe it in racial terms."

Team Obama reacted to Gingrich's comments Tuesday with a short statement.

"We believe the joke was inappropriate," said FLOTUS campaign spokesperson Olivia Alair.

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