Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., sparked bipartisan backlash after posting on X that every Muslim elected official in the United States is a security threat, a claim she made in the wake of Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s Democratic primary win.
Mace wrote on X on Friday, August 7, 2026, “Every single Muslim holding public office in America is a trojan horse, and a threat to both national security and our republic. We refuse to be silent.” She posted the message roughly two months after she finished fifth in South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial primary. She went on to name New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and El-Sayed specifically, telling followers Americans should be “very concerned” about the two progressive Muslim politicians.
When a British commentator criticized the post, Mace doubled down, writing, “If not wanting to be blown up, st*bbed, or rammed by a car by a radical Islamist in the United States of America makes us Islamophobes, then so be it.”
Two days later, CNN anchor Omar Jimenez pressed her on the remarks during an appearance on “CNN Newsroom,” asking whether she meant every Muslim elected official. Mace replied, “Uhh, that’s not what I said, that’s not what I said. I do think we have a real issue with radical Islamic—” Jimenez interjected, “I mean, it sounds like that’s what you’re saying,” to which Mace responded, “No, I was talking about elected officials.”
Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington condemned the post, writing on X, “This is absolutely disgusting and dangerous. Republicans must denounce this blatant Islamophobia. To Muslim communities across America: I will always stand with you.” Mace answered Jayapal directly, writing in part, “Islam must be confronted and Islam must be removed from civil society in the US.” California state Sen. Scott Wiener also criticized Mace, accusing her of demonizing Muslims. Neither Mace’s campaign nor her congressional office has offered further clarification on the original post
