Can't read it? Listen now!
Clay Higgins, a Republican congressman from Louisiana, is facing intense criticism after posting a racially charged message on social media targeting Haitian immigrants. The now-deleted post, which was shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, accused Haitians of “eating pets” and referred to them as “thugs.” Higgins also described Haiti as “the nastiest country in the Western Hemisphere,” prompting widespread outrage from political leaders and the public.
The post, which appeared to be in response to legal action against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, by a Haitian advocacy group, was quickly condemned by Democratic lawmakers. The Haitian Bridge Alliance, based in Springfield, Ohio, had filed the legal complaint, leading Higgins to lash out at the group and its Haitian supporters.
In his message, Higgins claimed, “These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the Western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters.” He then warned Haitian immigrants to leave the U.S. before January 20th, the date of the next presidential inauguration, referring to the legal efforts against Trump and Vance as a misguided attempt to challenge American leadership.
Higgins’ comments provoked outrage among Democratic members of Congress, particularly within the Congressional Black Caucus, which called for his censure. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader, condemned the post as “disgusting, vile, and racist,” while accusing Higgins of undermining the dignity of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Despite the backlash, Higgins stood by his remarks in a statement to CNN, though he removed the post after being approached by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, also from Louisiana. Johnson defended his colleague, stating that after praying over the issue, Higgins “regretted” the post and decided to take it down. Johnson characterized Higgins as a “principled man” who made a misstep in his language, but he rejected calls for further disciplinary action, arguing that the deletion of the post was sufficient.
The controversy has divided Republican ranks, with some GOP members distancing themselves from Higgins’ remarks. Representative Mike Lawler of New York, who represents a large Haitian diaspora, publicly denounced Higgins’ comments, stating that the Haitian people are “good and honorable” and that no one should “attack or disparage them.”
This is not the first time Higgins has faced accusations of racism. In 2016, he resigned from his position as a Louisiana sheriff’s captain after a video in which he referred to Black gang members as “animals” went viral. Higgins was subsequently elected to Congress, where he has cultivated an image as a tough-talking, no-nonsense lawmaker.
The incident has reignited debates about racism and xenophobia within the political sphere, particularly as the 2024 presidential election approaches. Critics argue that such remarks fuel division and endanger the safety of immigrant communities, while Higgins’ defenders frame the controversy as an issue of free speech.
