Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said she has received threats tied to her work in Congress and argued that escalating rhetoric from national leaders is contributing to a dangerous climate.
Crockett described a recent incident at her Washington, D.C., office in which, she said, an individual appeared in person and made what she characterized as “white supremacist” gestures. She framed the episode as part of a broader pattern of intimidation aimed at elected officials.
“We’re living in a time where political violence is being fueled from the very top,” Crockett said. She blamed President Donald Trump for what she sees as rising hostility, accusing him of spreading hate, targeting opponents, and stoking threats against members of Congress. “The President should be committed to unity, not more division,” she added.
Her comments came after Trump said Democratic lawmakers who encourage the military to refuse certain orders are engaging in “seditious behavior” that is “punishable by death.” Trump made the remarks Thursday following a letter from Democrats with military or intelligence backgrounds urging service members to reject unlawful orders. The lawmakers did not specify which orders they meant, but the administration has faced scrutiny over strikes against alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific that have reportedly killed more than 80 people. In their statement, they warned against actions that could place military and intelligence professionals “against American citizens.”
Crockett said the threats she has received have intensified as she continues to speak out. “Every time I speak truth, stand up for my constituents, or call out corruption, the threats get louder — and more dangerous,” she said, adding that she now needs security support.
“I will not be intimidated. I will not be silenced. I will continue to show up for the people of Texas’ 30th Congressional District,” Crockett said. “But we cannot pretend that this is normal. When leaders promote hate, hate shows up — sometimes right at our door.”
Crockett’s national visibility has grown in recent months, and she has openly discussed exploring a future Senate bid. She recently said she expects to spend heavily on polling to measure her standing statewide as a possible run approaches.
In an interview with Politico, she said she is “seriously weighing” entering next year’s elections. Crockett argued that increasing her public profile is an early step toward a viable statewide campaign. “I don’t think that we have the luxury, especially with us having such an early primary, of actually doing what we normally do, which — we spend about $100 million to get someone’s name ID up,” she said.
She also noted that she has had “multiple conversations” with potential campaign managers and has been assessing not only her primary prospects but also her chances in a general election.
