GOP rep's remarks stricken from House record after he accuses pro-Palestinian Tlaib of consorting with terrorists

During debate over a resolution to withdraw US troops from Lebanon on Wednesday, Ohio Rep. Max Miller claimed that Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib liked to "hang out" with members of a terrorist organization, resulting in his words being stricken from the record and Miller being barred from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the day. 

The comments came as Miller called out House Democrats for their lack of support for President Trump’s ongoing war efforts in the Middle East.

“If my colleagues on the other side actually cared about the people of Lebanon, which it's clear they don’t, they would cheer on the elimination of these bloodthirsty terrorists,” he said. “Not advancing meaningless resolutions to degenerate American foreign policy only to embolden them,” Miller continued. “For decades, Iran has used Hezbollah to project power throughout the Middle East. And in the process, Hezbollah has weakened the Lebanese state."Hezbollah, a terrorist organization created in the early 1980s by Iran’s IRGC and still heavily funded by Tehran, has a long history of violence.

Miller then turned to Tlaib and confronted her: “Hezbollah is a terrorist organization ... and its members are butchers that you like to hang out with, to a certain extent.” Tlaib began shouting, causing the chamber to come to a halt and Miller's time to speak being suspended. 

“Are you getting a little emotional?” Miller asked, then added, referencing Tlaib: “You advocate for a terrorist regime every day.”

Tlaib then took the floor and accused Miller of attacking her character. "That is a direct attack on my character," said Tlaib. "I please request a motion to strike the words."After a long delay in proceedings, Rep. Jay Obernolte of California, who was presiding over the chamber, granted Tlaib's request to strike the words, per Cleveland.com. Obernolte ruled that Miller's comments contained an allegation that Tlaib "is a butcher and affiliated with a terrorist organization” and that "such remarks impugn the patriotism and loyalty of the member of the House, which is not in order."

Miller was banned from speaking on the floor for the rest of the day, but Republican colleague Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) read out a statement from Miller. "Yes, I said it. I own it, and I stand by it," said Mast, reading a statement from Miller. Miller later wrote on social media, "My words may have been removed from the record, but Talib should be removed from Congress."

Tlaib brought the resolution in March as a way to “stand with the people of Lebanon.” She said in a statement at the time, "Thousands of families in our district with strong ties to Lebanon are living through immense pain. Many have lost loved ones, watched their grandparents’ towns and villages be completely destroyed, and seen relatives uprooted from their homes, not knowing if they will ever be able to return. We are witnessing the same genocidal playbook used against Palestinians in Gaza, now in Lebanon.” The resolution has not been passed by Congress.

Mast also submitted for the record a 2023 report from Fox News, which alleged that Tlaid at the time was part of a secret Facebook group in which members were seen glorifying the actions of Hamas terrorists in the wake of the October 7 attack on Israel. The private group, Palestinian American Congress, included a number of posts including one talking about the "achievements" of "resistance in Northern occupied Palestine," and Tlaib had been a member of the group for six years.

The House has passed a resolution to halt military action against Iran in defiance of President Trump. The vote was split mostly along party lines, with a few Republicans breaking ranks to rebuke the president including Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The roll call Wednesday was 215-208.

Trump, for his part, ripped the resolution as “meaningless” and “unpatriotic” in a post on Truth Social. He went on to go after both Democrats and Republicans for standing against the U.S. war efforts in the Middle East. “The Democrats are fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome,” he wrote. “They would rather have our country fail than give me another, of many, victories. The four Republicans, that’s a whole other story — they’re GRANDSTANDERS! They should be ashamed of themselves. MAGA!!! President DJT.”