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By Andrew Stanton
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Representative Andy Ogles, a Tennessee Republican, faced a wave of backlash after writing that Muslims “don’t belong in American society” in a post on X on Monday.
Newsweek reached out to Ogles’ office for comment via email on Monday.
Why It Matters
It’s unclear what prompted Ogles to make the post, but the remark comes at a flashpoint for religious relations in the United States. Over the weekend, explosive devices were found outside the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim. The devices were allegedly planted by counterdemonstrators of a right-wing protest against Mamdani. It also comes as the United States remains engaged in a military conflict with Iran.
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What To Know
Ogles, a conservative who is a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, posted on X: “Muslims don't belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie.” The post garnered significant backlash online, including from some Democrats serving alongside Ogles in Congress.
“I don’t know how many Muslims are in this guy’s district. I know there are tens of thousands in mine. They are parents. Entrepreneurs. Police officers. The firefighter-paramedic giving CPR to save your life. They are us. They are American. This tweet is NOT American,” Representative Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, responded.
“How disgusting,” progressive activist Nina Turner wrote.
Abdul El-Sayed, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s Senate race, responded that “racists don’t belong in American society.”
“White nationalism is a lie,” he wrote.
Representative Judy Chu, a California Democrat, wrote: “Racism and hate don't belong in American society, and this bigotry from an elected official is abhorrent.”
Richard Grenell, who serves as a special envoy to Trump, called out Ogles in a post to X, writing: "Stop attacking the First Amendment to the United States Constitution."
Ogles responded to the criticism in a post later Monday.
"To Hakeem Jeffries, Gavin Newsom, and the high-ranking Democrats flooding X to condemn me: A Muslim shot and killed three Americans in Texas. Two Muslims tried to blow up New York City...again. Meanwhile, all DHS counterterrorism programs are unfunded because you shut them down," he wrote.
Others supported Ogles' post.
“Amen. More GOP reps need to start saying this,” posted conservative activist Laura Loomer.
“It's time for an immigration moratorium It's time to publicly prefer our historic Christian religion We don't need to live like this anymore,” Auron MacIntyre, a columnist for The Blaze, responded.
Ogles’ Bill Would ‘Ban’ Immigration From Islamic Countries
Ogles has introduced a bill called the “Halt Immigration from Countries with Inadequate Verification Capabilities Act,” which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit immigration from several countries with predominantly Muslim populations.
The bill would target Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, according to an article from Fox News Digital.
“Mass Islamic immigration, legal or illegal, has transformed America and brought destructive consequences,” he told the outlet.
Anti-Islam Protest in New York City
Mamdani condemned a protest outside New York City’s Gracie Mansion on Sunday.
"Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism," Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, wrote on X. "Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city's values and the unity that defines who we are."
Lang is a conservative influencer pardoned by Trump of charges tied to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Images from the scene of the protest showed smoke and what police later identified as an improvised explosive device lying in the street.
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested and charged with attempting to support ISIS and use of a weapon of mass destruction, The New York Times reported. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a press conference that she expected a complaint to be made public later Monday.
She said it is being investigated “as an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.”
What People Are Saying
CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, in a statement: "The First Amendment guarantees religious freedom to everyone in our nation, including American Muslims. If any member of Congress had declared that 'Jews do not belong in America,' that politician would rightfully face condemnation and censure. Yet like Randy Fine and other anti-Muslim extremists in Congress, Mr. Ogles has faced no consequences for his dangerous rhetoric, even as American Muslim elected officials experience censure motions, threats and harassment for daring to criticize Israel's genocide in Gaza. The double standards and hypocrisy must end."
Representative Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democrat, responded to Ogles’ post: “The founders put freedom of religion in the FIRST Amendment for a reason. Muslims have lived in America since the 1600s. E Pluribus Unum, an ode to our pluralism, has been our country’s traditional motto since 1782. Maybe it’s YOUR values that don’t belong in American society.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office, on X: “Disgusting comments. America was founded on the idea of religious freedom. Republicans must denounce this now!”
Representative Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat, on X: “Muslims serve in our military, teach our kids, run businesses, and strengthen our communities. They belong in America. The real thing that doesn’t belong is this kind of hate coming from a sitting Member of Congress.”
What Happens Next
It’s not clear whether Ogles’ bill will have enough support to pass the House, as it would require support from more centrist Republicans. It would face even tougher odds in the Senate, where Democrats would likely block it using the filibuster.
Update 3/9/26, 4:52 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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