Official records from the House of Representatives

Rep. Clay Higgins Faces Backlash and Censure Calls After Racist Tweet on Haitians Deleted

Sep 25, 2024, 09:08 PM

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana is facing significant backlash after posting a tweet describing Haitians as 'wild' and Haiti as the 'nastiest country in the western hemisphere.' The tweet, which also mentioned 'vudu' practices, has been widely condemned as racist and xenophobic. Higgins deleted the tweet after being confronted by Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford on the House floor. Rep. Byron Donalds also spoke to Higgins, advising him to take down the tweet. Despite the deletion, the tweet has sparked calls for Higgins' censure, with Horsford formally offering a resolution for censure. Speaker Johnson, who called Higgins a 'dear friend' and 'principled man,' stated that Higgins regretted the tweet after praying about it. Steve Scalise objected to the censure motion, noting the tweet had already been deleted, and the House was called into recess. The incident has drawn widespread criticism from various political leaders and organizations, including the ACLU and several members of Congress, who have condemned the remarks as harmful and un-American.