Sen. Mike Lee posted on X on May 27 comparing Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico to a worshipper of the ancient deity Moloch and attached an AI-animated 19th-century engraving. Moloch is historically associated in biblical sources with child sacrifice, and the image has been used recently by conspiracy circles to allege elite wrongdoing. Talarico has not been accused of any crime, and Lee provided no substantive explanation beyond telling a commenter to "Read the Bible." The post followed Ken Paxton's upset runoff win over Sen. John Cornyn as Democrats back Talarico to contest the Texas Senate seat.
Sen. Mike Lee Compares Texas Democrat James Talarico to Moloch in Viral X Post
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico at a Houston rally on May 27. An 1800s engraving of the ancient diety Moloch.Credit: Danielle Villasana/Getty
Republican U.S. Senator Mike Lee of Utah posted on X on May 27 comparing Texas Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico to a worshipper of the ancient deity Moloch, a figure historically associated in biblical sources with child sacrifice.
An 1800s engraving of the ancient diety Moloch.Credit: Antranik Tavitian/Bloomberg
Lee wrote, "James Talarico will put you first. On the altar to Moloch," and attached an AI-animated clip that used an 1800s engraving depicting Moloch surrounded by flames and figures appearing to offer a baby.
James Talarico takes pictures with supporters after a rally in Houston on May 27.Credit: Danielle Villasana/Getty
What Moloch Represents
Moloch is described by the Encyclopedia Britannica and other historical sources as a Canaanite deity referenced in the Old Testament in connection with child sacrifice. In recent years, the Moloch image has been adopted by some far-right conspiracy circles to suggest secretive, sinister behavior by political or business elites—claims that lack credible mainstream evidence.
Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for Senate, on May 26. Utah Sen. Mike Lee on Jan. 13.Credit: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty;Antranik Tavitian/Bloomberg
Context And Reactions
Talarico has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing, and Lee did not offer a factual basis for equating the Texas Democrat with a Moloch worshipper. In response to a reader’s question about the post, Lee later wrote, "Read the Bible," providing little further explanation.
People magazine reported that reporters contacted both Lee's and Talarico's campaigns for comment on May 29. Lee, a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been outspoken in defense of former President Donald Trump; on May 23 he warned that comparing Trump to Hitler "you encourage assassination attempts," urging people to reject violence.
The post appeared the day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a Republican runoff primary. Paxton has received former President Trump’s endorsement. Democrats are rallying behind Talarico—who beat Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary—to try to flip the nation’s second-most-populous state.
Bottom line: Lee’s post used a provocative historical image and charged language without presenting evidence; the comparison drew attention because it invokes a potent biblical symbol and contemporary conspiracy imagery even though no wrongdoing has been alleged against Talarico.
Reporting credit: People magazine.
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