In a recent display of political discord, Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib faced severe backlash from her Republican colleagues after she brandished a sign labeling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "war criminal" during his address to Congress.
The incident, which took place within the hallowed halls of the House chamber, has sparked a wave of criticism from conservative lawmakers.
According to The New York Post, Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) expressed his disapproval of Tlaib's actions, stating, Shes incorrigible & should be censored & run out of town
His sentiments were echoed by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who took to social media to voice his disdain, tweeting, Rashida Tlaib continues to be an absolute disgrace.
The controversy surrounding Netanyahu's address was further fueled by the decision of several Democrats to boycott the speech, citing their opposition to Israel's war against Hamas.
Tlaib, a well-known critic of Israel's military actions, chose to attend the address, adorning herself with a black and white checkered keffiyeh and her contentious sign, which also accused Netanyahu of being guilty of genocide.
Netanyahu, during his address, took a swipe at anti-Israel protesters on American college campuses, labeling them as Irans useful idiots, and suggesting they should be ashamed of themselves for siding with Hamas.
This sentiment was echoed by several GOP lawmakers, who used Netanyahu's words to further criticize Tlaib's protest. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) shared a photo of Tlaib with her sign, captioning it Irans useful idiot, while Rep. Anthony DEsposito (R-NY) referred to Tlaib as a Useful idiot for a terrorist regime.
Tlaib's actions are not without precedent. Last November, the House of Representatives censured her after she defended Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel as resistance and used the antisemitic slogan, from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free on social media.
Despite the backlash, Tlaib remained defiant, expressing her disgust that Netanyahu received a standing ovation from lawmakers after his speech. I will never back down in speaking truth to power, she declared, sharing a photo of herself holding up the sign.
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