Congressman’s Anti-Muslim Post Triggers a Backlash
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, file)
A Tennessee congressman is drawing sharp criticism from Democrats after posting an anti-Muslim message on social media, according to Axios.
Republican Rep. Andy Ogles wrote on Monday, “Muslims don’t belong in American society” and added that “pluralism is a lie,” Politico reported. The post came shortly after two men in New York City were accused of attempting a terrorist attack allegedly inspired by ISIS, NBC News reported.
Ogles’ remarks followed a controversial comment made last month by Republican Rep. Randy Fine, who wrote that choosing between “dogs and Muslims” was “not a difficult” decision.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he had spoken with both lawmakers about “our tone and our message,” but he stopped short of directly criticizing them, Politico reported. Johnson said there is strong public concern about efforts to impose Sharia law in the United States, referring to Islamic religious law. Ogles also shared a graphic online that he said sarcastically illustrated “what Islam offers.”
Democrats quickly condemned the post. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Ogles a “malignant clown,” while House Minority Whip Katherine Clark said he does not belong in Congress. Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan, whose district includes a large Muslim population, said the remarks were “as un-American as it gets.” Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, a centrist who is retiring, also criticized the post, saying it contradicts the Constitution.
Ogles did not apologize and responded to the backlash with additional posts referencing the New York City case and another incident in Texas involving a Muslim suspect.
The controversy has revived tensions from last summer, when Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York introduced a resolution to censure Ogles over comments calling for the deportation of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim. While Democrats currently see little momentum for a formal censure, party strategists have reportedly identified Ogles as a potential political target in the 2024 election cycle. They believe that ongoing controversies surrounding him, along with Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder’s candidacy, could make his typically safe Republican seat more competitive, according to Axios.
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