Chaos erupted on the House floor Wednesday, June 3, when GOP Rep. Max Miller accused Rep. Rashida Tlaib of “advocating for terrorists” during debate over a resolution to limit U.S. support for Israel’s war in Lebanon. Presiding Rep. Jay Obernolte struck Miller
The House floor didn’t just get tense on Wednesday, June 3—it ground to a stop.
During a heated debate over a resolution seeking to limit U.S. support for Israel’s war in Lebanon, GOP Rep. Max Miller launched into remarks that quickly drew an immediate protest from Rep. Rashida Tlaib. The argument over the record sparked repeated shouting across the chamber and forced Rep. Jay Obernolte, the presiding lawmaker, to intervene to restore order as proceedings halted for roughly 45 minutes.
Miller’s escalation began with a direct attack on Tlaib’s position on the Lebanon conflict. He argued that Democratic criticism of the war ignores Hezbollah’s role and is not rooted in concern for the welfare of the Lebanese people. “While I can appreciate the passion from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I do not appreciate their lack of education and understanding of what is really going on there. ” Miller said.
He then turned to Tlaib, calling her out by name: “Hezbollah is a terrorist organization … and its members are butchers that you like to hang out with to a certain extent.”
Tlaib objected immediately, demanding that Obernolte strike the comments from the official congressional record. Miller pressed back, saying, “Oh, I’m sorry, are we getting a little emotional?”
As the shouting continued, Tlaib rejected the accusation from across the chamber. “I’m hanging out with terrorists now?” she shouted. Miller responded by insisting that her stance amounted to endorsement: “I certainly believe you advocate for them, yes. You advocate for terrorists on a daily basis.”
When Tlaib was granted time to speak, she framed it as a personal smear rather than a policy dispute. “That is a direct attack on my character,” she said. “Please, request a motion to strike the words down.”
The standoff paused House proceedings for around 45 minutes as Miller refused to have his words stricken from the record.
Once Obernolte stepped in, the dispute shifted from shouting to procedure. Miller initially resisted calls to withdraw his statement. reportedly saying. “I don’t believe I am going to agree” when asked whether he would consent to striking the remarks. Obernolte then intervened directly, warning that the comments were improper.
“Obernolte said. ‘Such remarks impugn the patriotism and loyalty of a member of the House. which is not in order. ’” and then. “Without objection. the offending words are stricken from the record.” After that ruling. Miller was subsequently barred from speaking on the House floor for the remainder of the day.
The episode didn’t end with Obernolte’s decision. Rep. Brian Mast later took the floor to read a statement on Miller’s behalf defending the remarks. “Yes, I said it. I own it, and I stand by it,” Mast read from Miller’s statement.
Mast also submitted a 2023 Fox News article tied to allegations about Tlaib’s involvement with a “secret” Palestinian American Congress social media group. The outlet claimed the group “glorified” Hamas. But the article’s messages cited in that reporting were not authored by Tlaib. and none of the messages in the group explicitly endorsed the militant group.
Back on the chamber floor, the fight over words—who was “hanging out” with Hezbollah, who was “advocating for terrorists on a daily basis,” and what belongs in the official record—made clear that this debate over U.S. support for Israel’s Lebanon war isn’t staying in the realm of policy.
House floor chaos Max Miller Rashida Tlaib Jay Obernolte Hezbollah Lebanon war resolution Israel support Brian Mast congressional record June 3 2026