Nancy Mace Faces Democratic Criticism After Calling Muslim Officials Security Threats
Rep. Nancy Mace is facing criticism from Democrats and other public figures after saying that every Muslim holding public office in America is a “trojan horse” and a threat to national security and the republic.
Mace, a South Carolina Republican, made the statement in a Friday post on X, according to Fox News. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., called the comments “disgusting and dangerous” and urged Republicans to denounce what she described as blatant Islamophobia.
The dispute escalated after Mace appeared on CNN, where host Omar Jimenez pressed her on whether she was saying Muslims are threats to the country. Mace denied that wording but continued arguing that Americans should be concerned about Muslim officials, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
The Daily Beast reported that Jimenez pushed back by pointing to the First Amendment and Article VI of the Constitution. Article VI says no religious test can be required for public office, while the First Amendment protects the free exercise of religion.
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That constitutional backdrop is what gives the story its broader consequence. Mace’s comments are protected political speech, but the controversy centers on whether a sitting member of Congress is treating Muslim identity itself as evidence of disloyalty or danger.
Social reaction has become part of the story. Jayapal condemned the remarks, California state Sen. Scott Wiener criticized Mace, and commentator Owen Jones accused Republicans of tolerating anti-Muslim rhetoric. Mace responded to criticism by saying that concern about “radical Islamist” violence should not be labeled Islamophobia.
The next question is whether Republican leaders respond. As of the reviewed reporting, no verified statement from House GOP leadership was identified.
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