Louisiana Representative Clay Higgins faced heavy criticism for an inflammatory social media post targeting Haitian immigrants.
Higgins, responding to an article regarding criminal charges against Donald Trump and JD Vance, described Haitians as “slapstick gangsters” who consumed pets and practiced “vudu,” showcasing an alarming level of racism that many lawmakers condemned.
“Ill-willed and incorrect,” Higgins’s comments drew immediate rebuke from colleagues, including Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford, who called for censure, arguing the remarks incite hate and fear. “It is time for this body to stand with one voice and ensure accountability,” Horsford stated on the House floor.
Despite the backlash and the post’s subsequent deletion, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson defended Higgins, labeling him a “dear friend” and noted that Higgins had prayed about the remarks, expressing regret afterward.
The controversy erupted against the backdrop of the Haitian Bridge Alliance’s legal action against Trump and Vance, aimed at addressing the chaos stemming from the former president’s false claims about legal immigrants.
Public reactions on social media ranged from disbelief to anger, with CNN anchor Jake Tapper highlighting Higgins’s troubling past, including his endorsement of former KKK leader David Duke.
