Campaign

Scott rips Tlaib’s genocide remark as part of ‘Hamas propaganda machine’

by Nick Robertson - 11/04/23 4:49 PM ET

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., speaks to attendees at the Republican Party of Florida Freedom Summit, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) jabbed Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) at a campaign event Saturday after the Michigan congresswoman criticized the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza.

Tlaib said Biden is “supporting the genocide of the Palestinian people” by backing the Israeli government without conditions.

“If you are a member of Congress, like Tlaib, you are an extension of the Hamas propaganda machine,” Scott said during a speech in Kissimmee, Fla. “You should be expelled from Congress because you have violated your oath of office.”

He made the comments at the Florida Republican Party’s “Freedom Summit” — which nearly all GOP presidential candidates attended and gave remarks.

Tlaib, who is of Palestinian heritage and is one of just three Muslim members of Congress, has repeatedly denounced the violence of Hamas while supporting the rights of the Palestinian people.

The Michigan Democrat also survived an attempted censure vote over similar comments that were critical of the Israeli government, after 23 Republicans joined all Democrats in voting it down earlier this week.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) pledged to reintroduce the censure measure Saturday.

The Biden administration has strongly backed Israel in its conflict against Hamas, including pledging billions in aid for the country. In recent days, the administration has called for a “humanitarian pause” in the war in order to assist Gaza civilians.

Tlaib has been one of the loudest voices in Congress in favor of a full cease-fire in the Middle Eastern conflict. Over a dozen House Democrats, Tlaib included, signed a resolution backing a cease-fire last month.

“Mr. President, the American people are not with you on this one,” Tlaib said on Saturday. “We will remember in 2024.”

Scott has been an ardent supporter of Israel since the start of the war with Hamas last month. He criticized progressives, Tlaib included, for advocating for Palestinian civilians after the conflict began and has recently repeated that foreign college students should be deported if they make comments too critical of Israel.