By Blessing Nweke
A social media post by Andy Ogles declaring that “Muslims don’t belong in American society” has sparked widespread criticism from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates across the United States.
The Tennessee Republican made the remark Monday on X, writing that “pluralism is a lie” and suggesting Muslims should live in countries that follow Islamic culture and law. The comments quickly triggered backlash, particularly from Democrats in Congress who condemned the statement as discriminatory and harmful.
Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, strongly criticized the post, calling Ogles a “malignant clown.” He added that “disgusting Islamophobes like you do not belong in Congress or in civilized society.”
Other Democratic leaders echoed the criticism. Katherine Clark said the remarks were unacceptable in American public life, while Eric Swalwell highlighted the role Muslim Americans play in communities across the country.
“They are parents, entrepreneurs, police officers, and first responders,” Swalwell wrote online. “They are us. They are American. This tweet is not American.”
The office of Mike Johnson did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Ogles’ remarks.
One Republican who criticized the post was Richard Grenell, a former envoy under Donald Trump, who urged Ogles to stop attacking the First Amendment and the principle of religious freedom.
Ogles did not retract his comments and instead defended them online, arguing that Democrats were unfairly attacking him.
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions following an attempted terrorist attack in New York City linked by prosecutors to extremists connected with Islamic State.
Civil rights organization Council on American‑Islamic Relations condemned the remarks, saying such rhetoric threatens religious freedom. The Pew Research Center estimates about 3.5 million Muslims live in the United States, representing roughly 1% of the population.
Original article
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