Republican Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana ignited a firestorm after posting an incendiary message on X (formerly Twitter), targeting Haitian migrants. In the now-deleted post, Higgins referred to them as “thugs” and “slapstick gangsters” and demanded they “get their a out of our country.” This inflammatory rhetoric immediately drew backlash, prompting Democratic lawmakers to swiftly pursue consequences on the House floor.
Leading the charge was Nevada Democrat Steven Horsford, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, who called for an investigation by the House Ethics Committee and urged his colleagues to censure Higgins—a stark reprimand for such a high-ranking official. Despite the uproar, Higgins expressed no remorse when speaking to CNN, staunchly defending his remarks.
However, when Horsford initially attempted to address the issue in the chamber, GOP Rep. Jay Obernolte of California, who was overseeing proceedings at the time, intervened. He informed Horsford that any immediate action would be deferred since the House had concluded its voting sessions for the month.
Prior to this procedural halt, tensions had already flared between Horsford and Higgins during an intense exchange on the House floor. According to sources, Horsford implored Higgins to delete the post. Higgins, while acknowledging the request, responded cryptically that he would “pray about it.” Horsford, undeterred, warned that he would escalate the issue with a formal resolution to censure Higgins if the post remained online.
Despite eventually removing the offensive message after what he described as prayerful reflection, Higgins doubled down on his derogatory remarks when speaking to CNN. “It’s all true,” Higgins asserted unapologetically. “I could put up another controversial post tomorrow. We’ve got freedom of speech—I’ll say what I want.”
Further digging in, Higgins brushed off the controversy, likening it to an inconsequential nuisance: “It’s like something stuck to the bottom of my boot. Just scrape it off and move on with my life.”
Horsford, however, remains adamant about holding Higgins accountable. In an appearance on AC360, Horsford vowed to press ahead with efforts to censure the congressman, denouncing his rhetoric as “divisive, racially charged, hateful.”
“This isn’t about election politics. This is about real people in America feeling targeted,” Horsford remarked. “Today it’s the Haitians. Who’s next? Could it be you?”
Higgins’ remarks also echo a broader pattern of false claims and xenophobic rhetoric surrounding Haitian immigrants—claims which have been amplified by figures like former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance. One of the most egregious falsehoods, promoted by this faction, accuses Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio of consuming residents’ pets. Notably, many of the Haitians referenced by Higgins are legally in the U.S. under a parole program that permits their lawful entry through family reunification.
In the wake of the controversy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries weighed in, calling for Higgins’ potential removal from the bipartisan task force investigating attempts on Trump’s life. Jeffries questioned Higgins’ fitness to serve on such a critical body, given his inflammatory comments.
“The remarks made by Rep. Clay Higgins were repugnant and posed real danger,” Jeffries told CNN. “It’s reasonable to ask why someone displaying such irresponsibility would be placed on a sensitive task force handling matters of national security.”
Fellow Democrat Glenn Ivey, a Maryland representative and member of the Congressional Black Caucus, expressed similar shock. “I was truly appalled,” Ivey said, reacting to Higgins’ statement.
Amid the fallout, House Speaker Mike Johnson sought to strike a conciliatory tone, insisting that Higgins did indeed show regret for his post. “He was approached by colleagues who made it clear his words were offensive,” Johnson explained. “He stepped back, reflected, prayed, and ultimately removed the post. That’s what we hope for in these situations. I’m sure he probably regrets some of the language. But we move forward—we believe in redemption here.”
While the immediate controversy over the social media post has simmered down, the deeper political and racial tensions exposed by Higgins’ remarks show no signs of abating. As Horsford and other House Democrats continue to press for a censure, the incident raises broader questions about the use of incendiary rhetoric by public officials and its implications for national unity in an already polarized political landscape.