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A DNA test showing that Sen. Elizabeth Warren has Native American ancestry is "completely irrelevant to the process" of determining her tribal identity, the Cherokee secretary of state told NPR's Morning Edition.

Chuck Hoskin was also critical of President Trump, saying he "should not be calling her 'Pocahontas,' " but "should be looking into what the needs of Indian country are, because the needs are there."

Trump has continued to attack the Massachusetts senator and potential 2020 rival on Twitter, charging Tuesday morning "that her claims of being of Indian heritage have turned out to be a scam and a lie" and saying she "should apologize for perpetrating this fraud against the American Public."

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1052171444082360320

Warren meanwhile, also took to Twitter, saying Trump "fumbled and lied on your $1 Million pledge."

https://twitter.com/elizabethforma/status/1052185536880873473

 to take a DNA test, and pledging $1 million to her favorite charity if it showed she did, in fact, have Native American roots.

Another claim in Trump's tweet bears correcting.

Harvard did not call Warren "a person of color" and hire her to to teach law because of her Native ancestry. 

 found just the opposite, in what it called, "the most exhaustive review undertaken of her professional history":

Hoskin said none of this helps the Cherokee Nation.

"For a senator, in this context, on this ongoing back-and-forth political fight, to talk about DNA," he said, "it really undermines tribal interest, frankly."

He added, "It certainly doesn't help when the president of the United States attacks a senator or if a senator bogs down in DNA results."

Politics and Government News

As the president and Elizabeth Warren trade jabs over her Native American roots, the Cherokee Nation secretary of state tells NPR they should instead be looking into the needs of Indian country.

Cherokee official says Trump-Warren DNA debate not helping tribe

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