Republican lawmakers slammed Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib Wednesday after she held up a sign calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” in the House chamber during his speech to Congress.
“She’s incorrigible & should be censored… & ‘run out of town’…” Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) wrote on X, referring to the far-left “Squad” congresswoman.
“Rashida Tlaib continues to be an absolute disgrace,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) tweeted.
Several Democrats boycotted Netanyahu’s address because of their opposition to Israel’s war against Hamas.
Tlaib, 48, has been a vocal critic of Israel’s war effort but opted to sit in on the 74-year-old prime minister’s address with a black and white checkered keffiyeh wrapped around her neck and the sign, which also accused Netanyahu of being “guilty of genocide.”
During his speech, Netanyahu mocked anti-Israel protesters on American college campuses as “Iran’s useful idiots,” arguing that they should be “ashamed of themselves” for siding with Hamas.
Several GOP lawmakers borrowed from Netanyahu’s remarks to criticize Tlaib’s protest.
“Iran’s useful idiot,” read a caption on a photo of Tlaib with her sign tweeted by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).
“Useful idiot for a terrorist regime,” Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) wrote on X, sharing the same photo of the Democratic congresswoman.
The House of Representatives censured Tlaib last November after she defended Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on the Jewish State as “resistance” to Israel and for using the antisemitic slogan, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” on social media.
Tlaib on Wednesday called it “disgusting” that Netanyahu received a standing ovation from lawmakers after his speech.
“I will never back down in speaking truth to power,” she said in a separate post, including a photo of herself holding up the sign.
“The apartheid government of Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians,” Tlaib added. “Palestinians will not be erased. Solidarity with all those outside of these walls in the streets protesting and exercising their right to dissent.”