A Republican congressional candidate backed by President Donald Trump said “devout” Muslim Americans should not be allowed to attend Congress because their belief systems are “anti-American.”
Jerrod Sessler, a Navy veteran and former NASCAR driver, is running against incumbent Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse in Washington’s 4th District, which Newhouse has represented since 2015.
In an interview with the Yakima Herald-Republic, Sessler said, “There’s no way there’s any devout Muslim in Congress because they can’t take the oath of office. Their fundamental belief system is anti-American.”
The U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, where the Senate and House of Representatives meet. One Republican Congressional candidate said “devout” Muslims should not be allowed to attend Congress. The U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, where the Senate and House of Representatives meet. One Republican Congressional candidate said “devout” Muslims should not be allowed to attend Congress. Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images
The parliamentary candidate also cited a Quranic verse that calls for the killing of nonbelievers. Many Muslims say this verse is often misunderstood.
Newsweek reached out to Jerrod Sessler via email for comment.
Sessler also said a Muslim parliamentary majority would threaten the security of the constitution.
“What would happen if the majority of Congress was Muslim?” Sessler told the Yakima Herald-Republic. “How safe and secure is our Constitution? It can’t be.”
Sessler told the Yakima Herald-Republic that, despite his personal views, he intends to engage with and respect Muslim representatives in Congress if elected.
He also told the newspaper that Muslims are welcome in the United States and that he supports Muslim Americans being promoted to leadership positions instead of in Congress.
The Republican later defended his remarks on social media.
In a comment on Some even put their hands on the Quran that is written.” {Read that sentence again if necessary. }
“For people who love and appreciate everything about being American, voting for Muslims, especially extremists, is nonsense. Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s good for the country, our children, or us. The future is limitless. “
This is not the first time Sessler has made such remarks.
During the Washington primary in August, Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar claimed that she could not defend the Constitution because she was a devout Muslim.
“Muslims cannot abide by the Constitution. It goes against their religious beliefs,” Sessler said. “Shame on the voters who pushed her into the Constitution when they actually believe in America.” added.
There are three Muslim Americans in Congress: Omar, Indiana Representative Andre Carson, and Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib.
Who is Jerrod Sessler?
In addition to being a Navy veteran, Sessler is also a former business owner and engineer. He founded a maintenance company called Home Task in 2004, but since running for office for the first time as a politician in 2021, he has been campaigning full-time.
On his campaign website, Sessler spoke of his “difficult and impoverished childhood” and described himself as a “symbol of the American dream.”
If elected, I pledge to protect the American Dream, protect our constitutional rights and national security, and be the voice of our nation’s future.
He is also committed to defending Second Amendment rights.
Sessler first ran against Newhouse in 2022, but failed to make it past the primary.
Sessler, a Trump supporter, visited Washington, D.C., on January 6, but did not enter the Capitol.
The former president supported Sessler over Newhouse, one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Newsweek contacted the Trump campaign via email to ask whether the former president supports Sessler’s views on Muslims in Congress.
In April, President Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Jerrod Sessler is a great candidate and will make a great representative for Washington’s 4th Congressional District. He is a Navy veteran and entrepreneur. A loving father and husband, Jerrod will fight hard every day to protect our borders, upholding the rule of law, strengthening our military, caring for our veterans, defending our country, and always… Let’s protect the Second Amendment, which is under siege. ”
By comparison, President Trump called Newhouse “weak and pathetic.”
