After declaring on Monday that Muslims “don’t belong in American society,” U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) doubled down on Tuesday, following reports revealing the two men accused of attempting to bomb a demonstration outside Gracie Mansion in New York were children of naturalized U.S. citizens, and allegedly pledged allegiance to or claimed to be inspired by the Islamic State.
“Paperwork doesn’t magically make you American,” wrote Ogles in a post to X, sharing a New York Post report which revealed the parents of alleged would-be bomber Ibrahim Kayumi own a $2.25 million home.
Ogles added, “Muslims are unable to assimilate; they all have to go back.”
Paperwork doesn't magically make you American.
Muslims are unable to assimilate; they all have to go back. https://t.co/c72GhYR5sH
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) March 10, 2026
Ogles’ latest post on the subject came just hours after the congressman reported that X had notified him that his earlier comments about Muslims were censored in Europe at the request of the European Union (EU).
According to the notice posted by Ogles, the EU requested X ban the congressman’s posts for “Illegal or Harmful Speech,” making his remarks inaccessible to users connecting to the website from internet connections in most of Europe.
“The EU has SILENCED my X post that called pluralism a lie and kindly stated that Muslims don’t belong in America,” wrote Ogles. “Muslims run their government, and they are silencing free speech. We must not cower to these barbarians. Free speech must win.”
🚨The EU has SILENCED my X post that called pluralism a lie and kindly stated that Muslims don’t belong in America.
Muslims run their government, and they are silencing free speech. We must not cower to these barbarians. Free speech must win. Share this everywhere. pic.twitter.com/DxCpeXBjZh
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) March 10, 2026
The supranational organization’s censorship of an American congressman’s post came amid heightened tensions between the United States and Europe over both immigration and freedom of speech, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio most recently urging European leaders to follow America’s lead on border security during his speech at the Munich Security Conference last month.
“And in a pursuit of a world without borders, we opened our doors to an unprecedented wave of mass migration that threatens the cohesion of our societies, the continuity of our culture, and the future of our people,” said Rubio. “We made these mistakes together, and now, together, we owe it to our people to face those facts and to move forward, to rebuild.”
Vice President JD Vance made similar remarks in February 2025, when he took Europe to task over speech policing in his speech to the Munich Security Conference, while also acknowledging the White House was breaking with previous administrations.
Vance stated, “In Britain, and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.
“I will admit that sometimes the loudest voices for censorship have come not from within Europe but from within my own country, where the prior administration threatened and bullied social media companies to censor so-called misinformation,” said the vice president. “Our own government encouraged private companies to silence people who dared to utter what turned out to be an obvious truth.”
Though not rising to the level of censorship, Ogles has faced criticism for his remarks from within the United States and within the Republican Party, as Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell on Monday declared the congressman’s remarks constituted an attack on the First Amendment.
Ogles joined the U.S. House Sharia Free America Caucus earlier this year.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
He is 100% correct