Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is serving his 16th term in the House as a Democrat from New York. He is facing a competitive June 23 primary, and his leading challenger, middle school principal Jamaal Bowman, cited the statement as a sign that it's time for Engel to leave Congress.

"This is so incredibly painful to watch from @RepEliotEngel," Bowman tweeted. "It hurts. We need to be taking care of our communities right now - whether it's election season or not. It's clear that we need new leadership in #NY16."

Engel clarified his remarks Tuesday afternoon, saying in a statement that he had wanted to convey that he cares "deeply about what's happening in this country."

Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is serving his 16th term in the House as a Democrat from New York. He is facing a competitive June 23 primary, and his leading challenger, middle school principal Jamaal Bowman, cited the statement as a sign that it's time for Engel to leave Congress.

"This is so incredibly painful to watch from @RepEliotEngel," Bowman tweeted. "It hurts. We need to be taking care of our communities right now - whether it's election season or not. It's clear that we need new leadership in #NY16."