Louisiana Republican’s ‘blatantly racist’ tweet draws criticism

Nevada Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford condemned Louisiana Republican Rep. Clay Higgins’ “blatantly racist” tweets targeting Haitians and Haitian Americans on the U.S. House floor Wednesday night.

Hours before members were scheduled to adjourn during the November election, Higgins posted a comment on the Leave the country on the date the next president is elected.

Higgins’ post included a link to an Associated Press report about a Springfield, Ohio-based nonprofit that represents Haitians that criticized former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D. The accusation was made by Vance, whose presidential and vice presidential campaigns focused on criticism of immigration.

“These Haitians are wild. Pet eating, Vodou, the filthiest country in the Western Hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters… But damn if they don’t feel so sophisticated now, bringing charges against our President and Vice President ‘s,” Higgins wrote. “All these thugs better come to their senses and leave our country before January 20th.”

Haitians are generally not classified as immigrants living in the country illegally because they are granted temporary protected status due to circumstances in their home country. Trump and Vance amplified unsubstantiated rumors about Springfield’s Haitian community, leading to hoax bomb threats targeting schools, government buildings and local leaders.

Democrat Horsford and other members— That reportedly includes Florida Republican Byron Donalds — who tracked down Higgins in the House of Representatives after the tweet. Higgins deleted the post shortly after.

Democrats condemn post

After brief confusion over the proper procedure for proposing a resolution of censure, Horsford, flanked by members of the Congressional Black Caucus and other Democrats, took the floor on the House floor to denounce the tweet and call on the House to vote to censure Higgins. Come back from the break.

“Higgins used his official account on X to publicly slander, insult and disparage all Haitians and Haitian Americans in overtly racist posts,” Rep. Hosford said. “

Rep. Troy Carter, the only Democrat and only Black member of Louisiana’s congressional delegation, blasted Higgins’ post in a written statement.

“I am appalled by Rep. Clay Higgins’ racist and reprehensible comments directed at the people of Haiti,” he wrote. “We all have a better responsibility to each other than this, but as elected officials we should hold ourselves to a higher standard. We have a solemn responsibility to represent and respect people of all races. Hateful rhetoric like this is not only It’s offensive and dangerous. It foments division, perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and undermines the core values ​​of our democracy.

Johnson, Scalise defend Higgins

Two of Higgins’ fellow Louisiana Republicans spoke to House leadership on Wednesday to defend him.

Speaking to reporters, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had spoken with Higgins, who told the speaker he regretted the wording of the tweet.

“Colleagues approached Higgins on the floor and said it was offensive,” Johnson said. “He said he went to the back and prayed about it, that he regretted it, and then he pulled the post down. That’s what you want the gentleman to do. I’m sure he probably regretted the language he used. But, you Knowing, we move forward believing there is salvation.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana briefly defended Higgins on the floor before the House briefly adjourned.

Scalise noted that the post had been deleted and said condemnation was inappropriate because he could find examples of members of the Democratic Party making divisive comments.

“If we wanted to go through every comment, every tweet from the other side, we would love to do that, but you would be shocked,” Scalise said.