By On February 28, 2026, as American and allied forces — backed not only by President Donald Trump but by European and Canadian partners, including several liberal critics of the administration — launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets, Rep. Rashida Tlaib revealed more than perhaps she intended.
Responding to reports of civilian casualties following joint U.S.–Israeli military action, the Michigan Democrat posted on X: “Both the U.S. and genocidal Israel doesn’t care about the laws. This is who they are.”
It was not the substance of her opposition — she has long criticized American policy in the Middle East — that ignited the sharpest backlash. It was a single word.
“They.”
Both the U.S. and genocidal Israel doesn't care about the laws. This is who they are. https://t.co/AQbNEi4Ojj
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) February 28, 2026
A sitting member of Congress, sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States, referring to her own country not as “we,” not as “us,” but as “they.” In a moment of geopolitical consequence — with American service members in harm’s way and allied governments publicly aligned — Tlaib linguistically placed herself outside the nation she represents.
The reaction was swift. Critics, both from the left and right, seized on the phrasing:
You're a member of Congress. Don't call the U.S. "they." https://t.co/rYdgU9af2A
— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) March 1, 2026
Terrorism apologist/Congresswoman uncritically parrots regime propaganda (as she often has for Hamas), while referring to the United States as “they.” https://t.co/9YsHV3yYDN
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) February 28, 2026
Fully unacceptable for a congressional representative to refer to the United States (in tandem with Israel) as "they." https://t.co/7FQtgvDgKT
— Cathy Young 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@CathyYoung63) February 28, 2026
Tlaib was previously caught being associated with a pro-Hamas group that glorified the terrorist organization.
To be sure, politicians sometimes distance themselves rhetorically from executive actions. Members of Congress routinely criticize presidents of their own party. But language matters. Pronouns matter. They signal identification—or disidentification.
When lawmakers say “we,” they assume shared responsibility for the republic’s actions, even in dissent. When they say “they,” they imply an occupying force, an alien power, something separate from themselves.
Tlaib’s comments come just days after she was caught chanting “KKK” while the rest of Congress, including other Democrats, were chanting “USA” to celebrate the United States men’s hockey team winning gold while they attended the State of the Union.
Republicans: “USA.”
Rashida Tlaib: “KKK.”
Everything you need to know about today's Democrats. They cannot stand this country, they cannot stand its comeback, & they cannot hide their contempt anymore. pic.twitter.com/fQCTkh6WVa— NRCC (@NRCC) February 25, 2026
President Trump sharply criticized Tlaib and Ilhan Omar after they repeatedly interrupted his State of the Union address, shouting accusations that his administration was “killing Americans.” In a social media post the following day, Trump called the lawmakers “LUNATICS” who “look like they should be institutionalized.”
The speech featured multiple tense exchanges. Democrats remained seated when Trump asked supporters of stricter immigration enforcement to stand, prompting him to say they “should be ashamed.”
Omar said she had no regrets about interrupting the president, arguing that he failed to acknowledge the deaths of her constituents. Tlaib also shouted criticisms during the address, at one point calling Trump “the most corrupt president” and referencing the Epstein files. Neither lawmaker was removed from the chamber, though both left before the record-setting one hour and 48 minute speech concluded. House Speaker Mike Johnson said afterward that potential consequences would be determined later.
[Read More: JFK Grandson Makes Treasonous Remark?]
