House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to formally rebuke Republican Representatives Andy Ogles and Randy Fine for recent Islamophobic remarks, saying he had discussed their "tone" with them. Democrats, religious-tolerance groups, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sharply condemned the comments and demanded accountability. Johnson warned about purported calls to impose sharia law in the U.S. but did not identify specific proponents. The dispute underscores growing concerns about inflammatory rhetoric within Congress.
House Speaker Mike Johnson Declines To Condemn Islamophobic Remarks, Says He Spoke To Lawmakers About Their "Tone"
Mike Johnson said: ‘The demand to impose sharia law in America is a serious problem. That’s what animates’ the Islamophobic comments.Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/AP(Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday declined to formally condemn two Republican colleagues for recent Islamophobic remarks, saying only that he had spoken with them about their "tone." The exchange took place during a press briefing at the House GOP retreat in Doral, Florida, where Johnson showed little appetite for formal disciplinary action.
"I've spoken to those members and all members, as I always do, about our tone and our message and what we say," Johnson said.
"There's a lot of energy in the country, and a lot of popular sentiment that the demand to impose sharia law in America is a serious problem. That's what animates this," he added.
"The language that people use, it's different language than I would use. But I think that's a serious issue."
Johnson did not identify any specific individuals or organizations he said were calling for sharia law, which he described as "contrary to the US Constitution." His remarks followed public backlash to comments from Representatives Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and Randy Fine (R-Fla.).
Ogles posted a social media message saying "Muslims don't belong in American society" and called for the deportation of New York City council member Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim and a naturalized U.S. citizen. In response, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X that "Andy Ogles is a malignant clown and pathological liar" and said "Disgusting Islamophobes like you do not belong in Congress or in civilized society." Jeffries added that Democrats would work to defeat Ogles in November.
Jeffries also condemned Representative Randy Fine for a string of inflammatory posts, including a remark that, "If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one." The minority leader called Fine "a disgrace to the United States Congress" and urged Speaker Johnson to hold him accountable.
The episode highlights tensions within the Republican conference over rhetoric and discipline, and it has drawn condemnation from Democrats and faith and civil-rights groups that say the lawmakers' comments amount to bigotry and undermine social cohesion.
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