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Tennessee Rep. Ogles Faces Backlash for Islamophobic Comments

3/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

Tennessee Republican Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) sparked backlash by posting Islamophobic remarks, including "Muslims don’t belong in American society" and calls for deportation.
Congressional Democrats and advocacy groups condemned the remarks, underscoring that they contradict American values.
U.S. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Ogles and urged Republicans to denounce the rhetoric.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called Ogles an anti-Muslim extremist and emphasized that the First Amendment protects religious freedom.

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Story summary

Tennessee Republican Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) sparked backlash by posting Islamophobic remarks, including "Muslims don’t belong in American society" and calls for deportation.
Congressional Democrats and advocacy groups condemned the remarks, underscoring that they contradict American values.
U.S. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Ogles and urged Republicans to denounce the rhetoric.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called Ogles an anti-Muslim extremist and emphasized that the First Amendment protects religious freedom.