WASHINGTON – Multiple Republican lawmakers are facing intense criticism for social media posts that many view as targeting Muslim Americans, amid new data showing anti-Islamic incidents have reached unprecedented levels nationwide.
Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville sparked outrage Thursday with a post on X that placed a photo of the September 11 attacks next to an image of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani hosting a Ramadan iftar dinner at City Hall on March 8. The post included text reading “less than 25 years ago” and “The enemy is inside the gates.”
The controversial post targeted Mamdani, who made history as New York’s first Muslim mayor. Tuberville, who has a track record of anti-Muslim statements both online and in Senate proceedings, did not respond to requests for comment and later reinforced his position in additional social media posts.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) took the unprecedented step of adding Tuberville to its registry of anti-Muslim extremists – the first time the organization has placed a sitting U.S. senator on such a list.
The incidents occur as CAIR released new research this week showing Islamophobic events in 2025 have hit an all-time high. The rise in religious hatred extends beyond the Muslim community, with antisemitic attacks also climbing, including Thursday’s incident where a driver crashed a truck into a Detroit-area synagogue.
Tennessee Representative Andy Ogles generated widespread condemnation earlier this week with his X post stating, “Muslims don’t belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie.”
Rather than backing down, Ogles intensified his rhetoric, writing: “Muslims are unable to assimilate; they all have to go back.” He attached this message to coverage of federal terrorism charges against two individuals accused of detonating an improvised explosive device at an anti-Islam demonstration outside Mamdani’s residence. Officials say the suspects claimed inspiration from ISIS.
Ogles has repeatedly attacked Mamdani personally, calling him “little muhammad” and demanding he face “DEPORTATION” and “denaturalization proceedings” following his Democratic primary victory for New York City mayor.
Democratic lawmakers have responded with two censure motions against Ogles during the current congressional session. Michigan Representative Shri Thanedar filed the latest censure resolution Thursday, seeking Ogles’ removal from the House Homeland Security Committee.
“Congressman Ogles’ disgusting and bigoted words have no place anywhere in our country, let alone from a member of Congress. His words incite hatred against millions of Muslim Americans,” Thanedar stated.
House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to condemn Ogles’ statements when questioned by reporters earlier this week.
“The language that people use, it’s different language than what I would use, but I think that’s a serious issue,” Johnson said, referencing concerns about Islamic law being imposed in America.
Islamic law, or sharia, represents a collection of legal and moral guidelines interpreted differently across the Muslim faith. The concept of implementing sharia law in the United States lacks broad support among American Muslims and their community leaders.
CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw responded: “Ironically, the only people trying to impose their religion on America are those politicians who seek to ban Muslims from our nation, who try to force public school teachers to read the Bible to their students, and who demand that our nation go to war in the Middle East to fulfill their end times prophecies.”
Georgia Representative Andrew Clyde used the same Mamdani photograph as Tuberville in his Thursday X post, claiming Democrats “whine” about church-state separation regarding Christian imagery in government but “when it’s Islam, they welcome it.”
Texas Representative Chip Roy shared a Capitol building image with text reading “Protect America. Ban Sharia.”
Roy and fellow Texas Republican Keith Self established the Sharia Free Caucus, comprising nearly 50 legislators committed to prohibiting Islamic law and advancing bills like the “Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act.” Tuberville authored the Senate version of this legislation, which would block immigration benefits and authorize deportation for immigrants who promote implementing sharia in ways that conflict with U.S. law or constitutional protections.
Clyde, Ogles, Roy and Self did not respond to comment requests.
New York Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer characterized Tuberville’s statements as “mindless hate.” The 2020 U.S. Religion Census counted approximately 4.5 million Muslim Americans.
“Muslim Americans are cops, doctors, nurses, teachers, bankers, bricklayers, mothers, fathers, neighbors, mayors, and more,” Schumer posted on X.
