- Hunt, who is black, told the crowd that he liked Martin Luther King Jr. Day was judged based on the color of his skin
- The heckler accused Hunt of neglecting black people by supporting Trump
- The screaming man was eventually escorted out of the building and Hunt was able to resume his speech
Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt was criticized in Iowa for supporting “racist” Donald Trump by an agitated anti-Trump heckler who started yelling at him during a speech in support of the former president.
The Republican was addressing a crowd at the Timberline caucus site in Waukee, Iowa, on Monday evening when the man began shouting.
The heckler shouted that Hunt, R-Texas, was “debasing himself” and accused him of turning his back on the black community.
“How can a black man do this on Martin Luther King Day,” the heckler, who himself appeared black, shouted at Hunt. “How can a black man stand here and talk to us about a racist?”
Shortly after interrupting Hunt’s speech, the man appeared to become irritated and began walking toward the congressman.
Despite being interrupted, Hunt continued his speech and told the crowd why he believes Donald Trump is the best presidential candidate
Hunt was referring to Martin Luther Kin Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech. after the man left the room
The heckler began shouting that former President Donald Trump was a racist and that Hunt was turning his back on the black community by supporting him
Once the man approached, Hunt, who had served in the U.S. Army for years after graduating from West Point Military Academy, stood his ground as others present took quick action to restrain the brawler and prevent him from getting closer .
The man was eventually removed, but not before shouting all the way to the exit. The crowd applauded after his removal.
Immediately after the heckler was removed, Hunt changed his tune and addressed the situation.
“I come from a majority-white district in Houston, Texas, and I won by 30 points,” Hunt told the crowd.
‘Because on days like these I realize that I am literally not judged by the color of my skin, but by the content of my character.’
Fittingly, the Republican invoked a line from Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Other caucusgoers quickly responded to the situation and escorted the heckler out
Hunt spoke to a crowd at a Trump campaign rally in his hometown and district of Houston
Hunt was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022 and took office in January 2023
Iowans embraced the subzero temperatures Monday to rally their favorite 2024 presidential candidate
Hunt later discussed the issue on X.
“Tonight, at the Timberline Caucus, while speaking on behalf of President Trump, an angry man tried to stop my speech,” Hunt wrote. ‘He shouted that Trump was ‘racist’. You know, the same tired trope we’ve heard over and over again.’
“The anti-Trump movement is in complete collapse,” he wrote.
“But on this day of all days, Martin Luther King Day, the people of Iowa, like President Trump, judge me not by the color of my skin, but by the content of my character,” the post continued.
Trump went on to win the Iowa caucuses decisively, beating fellow candidates Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley by more than 30 points, a record margin.
Trump’s victory in Iowa was so clear that President Biden took note.
“It looks like Donald Trump just won Iowa. He is the clear frontrunner on the other side at the moment. But the point is, this election was always going to be you and me versus extreme MAGA Republicans. It was true yesterday and it will be true tomorrow,” Biden wrote on his social media accounts.