Rep. Jasmine Crockett Faces Backlash for Mocking Governor Abbott

U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, recently faced significant backlash after derisively referring to Governor Greg Abbott as “Hot Wheels,” an apparent jibe at his wheelchair use. This comment, made during a Los Angeles event hosted by the LGBTQ+ rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, sparked outrage from Republicans who condemned Crockett’s remark. Attorney General Ken Paxton denounced her as “despicable,” while U.S. Senator John Cornyn labeled the comment “shameful.” The National Republican Congressional Committee’s spokesperson, Mike Marinella, criticized Crockett, stating that “when you have no message or agenda, all that’s left is hate.”

During the dinner, Crockett told attendees, “Y’all know we got Gov. Hot Wheels down there. Come on now. And the only thing hot about him is that he is a hot mess, honey.” Abbott has been using a wheelchair since an accident in 1984 when a tree fell on him, causing severe spinal injuries.

Crockett’s comments have reignited a history of controversies where Abbott’s disability has been mocked. In 2019, then-Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt apologized for a similar misstep, and in 2020, two staffers from the right-wing group Empower Texans sparked outrage within their party for ridiculing Abbott. Despite these controversies, Abbott and his team have not officially responded to Crockett’s remarks. In response to growing criticism, Crockett clarified on social media that her intention was to critique Abbott’s policies and not his disability. She argued that the offensive term was meant to comment on his contentious handling of migrant transfers, not his physical condition.

Known for her pointed critiques of Republicans, Crockett has become a prominent voice for Democrats countering President Donald Trump. She has gained viral attention for her confrontations with Republican lawmakers, notably U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, who once mocked her during a committee hearing for wearing “fake eyelashes.” Crockett’s snappy retort questioned the appropriateness of using phrases like “bleach blonde bad built butch body,” directed at Greene. That retort, capturing public interest, has been emblazoned on merchandise, with Crockett’s campaign moving to trademark the phrase last year.