A heated dispute on the House floor brought proceedings to a standstill Wednesday after Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, accused Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., of having associations with terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, during debate over a Lebanon-related resolution.
The confrontation unfolded as lawmakers discussed a measure introduced by Tlaib that would require President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. military forces from Lebanon. Tlaib, a member of the progressive “Squad,” has argued that the United States should not support Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon and is expected to force a House vote on the resolution Thursday.
The resolution itself does not mention Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group based in Lebanon that has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. Republicans criticized that omission during the debate, arguing that limiting U.S. involvement in Lebanon would ultimately benefit Hezbollah.
During floor remarks, Miller sharply criticized the proposal and directed comments at Tlaib.
“Hezbollah is a terrorist organization … and its members are butchers that you like to hang out with to a certain extent,” Miller said.
Tlaib immediately objected to the remarks, calling them an attack on her character. She appealed to the presiding officer, Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., to rule Miller’s comments out of order.
The exchange escalated when Miller responded to Tlaib’s objections by asking, “Are we getting a little emotional?”
House proceedings were subsequently halted for more than an hour while lawmakers considered whether Miller’s comments violated House rules. Obernolte ultimately ruled that the remarks should be stricken from the official record.
As a result, Miller was prohibited from speaking on the House floor for the remainder of Wednesday’s session.
Later, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., delivered a statement on Miller’s behalf, making clear that the Ohio Republican was not backing away from his comments.
“Yes, I said it. I own it, and I stand by it,” Mast read.
Mast also attempted to enter documents into the congressional record concerning what he described as Tlaib’s alleged associations with terrorist groups. Tlaib objected to the effort. Among the materials was a 2023 Fox News Digital report stating that Tlaib belonged to a private Facebook group that praised Hamas following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
The dispute comes as Tlaib’s Lebanon resolution faces long odds in the House. The measure is expected to encounter bipartisan opposition, and its prospects for passage appear slim.
Republican lawmakers have argued that the proposal could interfere with U.S. military operations aimed at protecting the American Embassy in Beirut and supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces in efforts to counter Hezbollah.
During the debate, Mast questioned Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., a co-sponsor of the resolution, about whether U.S. forces should remain in Lebanon to help train the Lebanese military in combating Hezbollah. Ramirez declined to directly answer the question, instead saying that Mast was engaging in a different debate than the one surrounding the resolution.
