WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) defended controversial comments about Muslims on Monday after facing sharp criticism from Democrats and some conservatives. The Tennessee Republican earlier posted on X that “Muslims don’t belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie,” drawing widespread condemnation from lawmakers and civil rights advocates.
Ogles later doubled down, arguing that Democrats were responsible for weakening national security by allowing the Department of Homeland Security to remain shut down during a dispute over immigration policy. “A Muslim shot and killed three Americans in Texas. Two Muslims tried to blow up New York City…again,” Ogles wrote, adding that counterterrorism programs were unfunded during the shutdown.
Democratic leaders quickly condemned the remarks. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called Ogles a “malignant clown and pathological liar” and said “disgusting Islamophobes like you do not belong in Congress or in civilized society.” House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) also criticized the statement, saying such rhetoric “doesn’t belong in American society.”
The controversy comes after a recent shooting in Austin, Texas, that left three people dead and injured 14 others. Federal investigators are examining whether the attack had possible links to terrorism. Authorities also charged two men accused of throwing a homemade bomb near New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence, saying they were motivated by ISIS.
Some Republicans have largely remained silent on the dispute, though Trump ally Richard Grenell publicly criticized Ogles and warned against attacking First Amendment protections.
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