Tlaib Triggers Rare Rule After Republican Accuses Her of Defending Terrorists
The House of Representatives had to stop working and use a rarely used parliamentary maneuver to protect Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a socialist from Michigan, after Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller accused her of working with Hezbollah and supporting terrorists.
The fight started during the debate of a resolution Tlaib had pushed for on war powers in Lebanon.
In the end, Miller’s comments were ruled out of order and taken out of the record.
The Ohio Republican was also barred from speaking on the House floor for the rest of the day.
He also refused to issue an apology.
The fight, which was one of the most heated on the floor in recent memory, showed how divided people are over U.S. policy in the Middle East and how much members can say about each other without breaking House rules.
It also brought up a tougher question that the rules can’t answer: whether Miller’s main charge, no matter how bluntly it was made, was valid.
Tlaib, a Palestinian-American and one of only two Muslim women in Congress, opened her floor remarks by calling for an end to “U.S. participation in the Israeli apartheid regime’s invasion of Lebanon.”
She accused the Israeli military of targeting journalists and using American tax dollars “to commit war crimes.”
Miller, who is Jewish, responded by going directly at Tlaib. He referenced Hezbollah.
“Its members are butchers that you like to hang out with to a certain extent,” Miller said.
When Tlaib reacted, hollering at Miller from across the chamber, though her words were not picked up on the microphone, Miller stood his ground.
“Yes, you advocate for terrorists on a daily basis. You advocate for a terrorist regime every single day,” Miller said.
Then came the line that seemed designed to provoke: “Oh, I’m sorry. Are we getting a little emotional?”
Tlaib moved quickly to invoke the House’s formal remedy.
She asked that Miller’s words be “taken down,” a term of art on Capitol Hill that triggers a review of whether a member’s remarks violated chamber rules against personal attacks.
Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., who was presiding over the debate from the dais, slammed down the gavel, addressed both members, and asked Miller to sit down.
“Colleagues, this is a serious topic. We will debate it respectfully and deliberately,” Obernolte said.
House business came to a halt as staff and stenographers reviewed the disputed remarks.
After an hour of delay, Miller still would not apologize or withdraw his statement.
Obernolte then issued his ruling.
“The words of the gentleman from Ohio contain an allegation that the gentlewoman from Michigan is a ‘butcher’ and affiliated with a terrorist organization. Such remarks impugn the patriotism and loyalty of the member of the House,” Obernolte said.
Obernolte declared the remarks “contain personalities and are not in order” and ordered them stricken from the record.
The House sanctioned Miller and suspended him from speaking for the rest of the day.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., who had been managing the Lebanon debate on the floor for Republicans, stepped in to speak on Miller’s behalf.
Mast told the chamber he would deliver a message from Miller, then quoted the Ohio Republican directly: “Yes, I said it. I own it. And I stand by it.”
Mast then went further.
He asked the House for permission to submit into the Congressional Record an article titled “Rashida Talib, member of a secret Facebook Group where Hamas Terrorists glorified.”
Tlaib objected.
Mast also tried to enter a transcript of Tlaib allegedly speaking about genocide.
Tlaib objected again.
The outcome of the procedure obscured the main argument.
Tlaib spoke in front of the House and called Israel, which is an ally of the US through a treaty, a “apartheid regime.”
Its military was doing “war crimes” with American tax dollars, she said.
💥 PRESS DEBUT DISASTER!
Katie Zacharia’s Awkward First White House Press Briefing Draws National Attention
Katie Zacharia’s first appearance behind the White House podium quickly became a major talking point after several uncomfortable moments overshadowed her debut as President Donald Trump’s new press secretary.
The October 13 briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, with Zacharia answering questions from only three news outlets before ending the session. Her short appearance immediately attracted widespread media attention.
Zacharia had recently been selected to replace former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, stepping into a highly visible role responsible for communicating the administration’s positions to journalists and the American public.
From the opening minutes, observers noticed her reliance on prepared notes. She delivered a lengthy account of Trump’s accomplishments, frequently looking down at the script instead of maintaining eye contact with reporters.
Her delivery also attracted criticism, with commentators describing her voice as hesitant and her presentation as unusually stiff. Others questioned whether the administration had given its newest spokesperson enough preparation time.
Much of the briefing focused on praising Trump’s economic agenda, energy policies, rally attendance, and political achievements. The extended list of talking points left relatively little time for substantive exchanges with journalists.
One particularly awkward moment occurred when Zacharia discussed the challenge of balancing her demanding position with family life. She explained that spending evenings away from her four children was unacceptable to her.
She then accidentally referred to her husband as “my president” before immediately correcting herself with “my husband.” Recognizing the slip, she added a brief joke, creating the briefing’s most widely discussed moment.
The verbal mix-up spread rapidly through news coverage and social media, becoming a defining image of her first appearance. Critics treated it as evidence of nervousness, while others viewed it as an ordinary human mistake.
Her response to a question about U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine also drew attention. When asked whether Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv, Zacharia replied that she would have to get back to the reporter.
The exchange was brief, but it highlighted the difficulty of responding to sensitive foreign policy questions without immediately having the necessary information. Reporters continued seeking answers as the briefing moved forward.
Another significant announcement concerned Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece. Zacharia told reporters that the administration had asked Guilfoyle to resign, unexpectedly introducing a personnel development into the short briefing.
The announcement generated additional headlines and demonstrated that, despite the awkward delivery, Zacharia’s first appearance included consequential political news. Her handling of the announcement, however, also attracted scrutiny from commentators.
Questions about her readiness soon emerged among political observers and some administration allies. The Wall Street Journal described the debut as rocky, reporting that her nervous presentation prompted questions about the decision to put her before cameras so quickly.
The brief question-and-answer session was another unusual feature. After taking questions from Breitbart News, Fox News, and the Daily Mail, Zacharia announced that reporters could ask Trump questions directly as he prepared to leave.
Her decision to end the briefing after such limited questioning became another focus of criticism. Regular White House briefings often involve extended exchanges, making the short session particularly noticeable to journalists and political commentators.
Despite the criticism, Trump publicly defended his new press secretary. Asked about her performance, the president said he thought she had done very well, offering a clear show of support following the difficult debut.
The White House also presented the briefing positively, describing Zacharia’s performance as commanding. That assessment contrasted with critical media coverage, illustrating how differently supporters and detractors interpreted the same appearance.
Zacharia’s debut has therefore become an early test of her ability to manage a demanding communications role. Future briefings will offer a clearer indication of whether she can develop greater confidence and handle sustained questioning.
For now, the accidental “my president” remark remains the most memorable moment from her first appearance. Whether the incident becomes a brief viral embarrassment or a lasting political talking point will depend on what follows.
