Rep. Jasmine Crockett Criticized for Controversial Comments About Texas Governor

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) faced backlash from Republicans on Tuesday for calling Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, “Governor Hot Wheels.” Crockett made the remark at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles, targeting the governor in her critique. “Y’all know we got Governor Hot Wheels down there. Come on now. And the only thing hot about him is that he’s a hot a– mess, honey,” she quipped to applause from the audience.

Governor Abbott, now 67, became paralyzed at 26 when a falling tree hit him during a jog, severely injuring his spinal cord. On Tuesday, Crockett did not directly address reporters’ queries about her comments when entering the House floor, stating only that her comment “speaks for itself.” “Y’all saw the video,” she remarked.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) circulated Crockett’s comments on social media Tuesday, urging two vulnerable Texas Democrats—Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez—to repudiate her statements. “Jasmine Crockett is the perfect spokesperson for today’s Democrats — out of touch and completely unhinged. When you’ve got no message and no agenda, all that’s left is hate,” criticized NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella.

Later on Tuesday, Crockett aimed to clarify her remarks about Abbott, arguing that she “didn’t focus on the governor’s condition — I was referencing the planes, trains, and automobiles he utilized to relocate migrants to cities with Black mayors, knowingly inciting fear and tension in the most fragile communities.” She added, “The next line I said described him as a ‘Hot A** Mess,’ scrutinizing his harmful policies. At no time did I refer to his condition.”

Although spokespeople for Abbott and the Human Rights Campaign did not immediately return requests for commentary, Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) announced his plan to propose a resolution to formally censure Crockett. The congresswoman, he argued, “impair the values upon which both Texas and America are built” with her actions considered “vile and offensive political attacks.”

In the U.S. House, censure is utilized alongside expulsion and reprimand for disciplining members. Traditionally rare, the practice of censure has become more frequent in recent years. First elected to the House in 2022, Crockett has gained a reputation for viral and candid performances in Congress, such as her clashes with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina), which have raised her profile among Democrats.

However, this visibility has also made her a target for Republicans, who condemned Crockett’s mockery of Abbott. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) labeled Crockett’s comments “shameful and completely out of line” and linked them to calls for protests against Tesla, which is led by Trump advisor Elon Musk.

Crockett’s comments have faced condemnation from several Trump allies, including Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who called her remarks “disgraceful.” Cornyn questioned, “Can you imagine if a Republican said something like this?” In defense, Crockett pointed out that her critics have loyally supported Trump, known for mocking disabilities, prompting her to say, “Keep that same energy for all people, not just your political adversaries.”

Trump has a history of ridiculing disabilities among various individuals, ranging from President Joe Biden’s stutter to a journalist with physical limitations. In his 2024 campaign, Trump described his Democratic opponent, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, with derogatory mental health terms.

Musk, leading the U.S. DOGE Service to reduce government size, has repeatedly used offensive terms on his social media platform X for people with disabilities. House Democratic leadership did not immediately respond for comments, and House Democrats expressed mixed views on Crockett’s statements. Rep. Debbie Dingell (Michigan) declined to support Crockett’s approach, whereas Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York) viewed Republican criticism as another form of intimidation against Democrats.