See who donates to lawmakers after they call Islam dangerous and unAmerican

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks killed more than 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, touched off a pair of wars and birthed a surveillance industry.

The attacks also exposed America’s tolerance for religious discrimination. 

Just a week after 9/11, President George W. Bush visited an Islamic Center in Washington, where he explicitly pleaded with Americans not to target people solely because they shared the same religion as the attackers.

“Islam is peace,” said Bush, a Republican from Texas. ”Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military, entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads. And they need to be treated with respect.”

But by the second year of the second term of Donald Trump’s presidency, Islamophobia is far from taboo, and not just on the right. Corporations and political committees that claim zero tolerance toward discrimination and demand that customers “treat everyone … with respect” have also donated to politicians who have publicly and repeatedly called for excising Muslims from American life.

Donors give to candidates for any number of reasons, and there is no evidence that anti-Muslim rhetoric led to any specific contribution.

But public comments and campaign finance records reviewed by Straight Arrow show that brazen rhetoric targeting people solely because of their religion — in this case Islam — did not act as a deal-breaker even for organizations that say they oppose discrimination.

None of the politicians who have expressed Islamophobic sentiments immediately responded to requests for comment from Straight Arrow. Nor did companies that donated to them after those remarks. But the candidates have been vocal in their criticism of Islam and Muslims, and their donors have been equally clear that they do not support bigotry, including over religion.

Nathan Lean, who teaches religious studies at North Carolina State University and whose books include “The Islamophobia Industry,” told Straight Arrow there is a “collective acceptance as a society” of discrimination against Muslims.

“Take the word Islam and replace it with Judaism,” Lean said, and a powerful lawmaker could be shunned.

Or “replace the word Muslim with the word Black people,” Lean said. “They wouldn’t make it out of the television studio and into their car before they were accosted and castigated for blatant racism. But somehow with Muslim it’s acceptable.”

Here’s a look at politicians who have spread some of the most heated anti-Muslim rhetoric —and the donors that support them:

‘Islam is a problem’

After freshman Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, a member of the House Budget, Judiciary and Oversight committees, has said “Islam is a problem,” claimed “Islamization” of America “is a national crisis,” and said “Americans shouldn’t have to hear Muslim calls to prayer,” his campaign recorded receiving nearly $36,000 from political action committees.

• Koch Inc.’s PAC donated $1,000. The company’s code of conduct webpage includes a quote from the company’s chairman and co-CEO Charles Koch: “For businesses to make the greatest contribution to society, we must treat others with honesty, dignity, respect and sensitivity, and appreciate the value of diversity.” He also said, “Unlawful and illegitimate discrimination and harassment are violations of all these requirements and will not be tolerated.”
• Walmart’s webpage about “Belonging” reads: “At Walmart, our vision is ‘everyone included.’ We strive to bring our core value of ‘Respect the Individual’ to life every day, and we believe fostering a culture where everyone belongs is essential —for associates and for driving business success.” The retailer’s political committee gave Gill $1,000.
• The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers says it “has zero tolerance for any form of unacceptable behavior, including, without limitation, discrimination, bullying or harassment,” at its events. Violators could be expelled from the organization. Its PAC donated $1,500 to Gill. (The ASCAP Foundation gives awards to those who have “demonstrated exceptional efforts in humanitarianism.”)
• The board of trustees for the American Optometric Association said in a 2020 letter still on its website that they “recognize, support and embrace our profession’s leadership role in helping communities, states and our country come together, heal and stand stronger than ever against inequality and injustice.” The next year the board posted another statement saying “AOA affirms its unyielding belief that there is no place in our country for racism, intolerance, violence or hate.” The association’s PAC contributed $2,500 to Gill.

‘America and Islam are incompatible’

Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., a member of the Homeland Security and Financial Services committees, raised more than $50,000 from political action committees after he wrote, “Good vs evil … Christianity vs islam, are you ready?”

The donations also follow statements saying, “No public displays of Islam please. It is not American,” “America and Islam are incompatible. Time for a muslim ban,” “every naturalized muslim should be deported immediately,” “If we don’t cease to import islam, the West fall,” and “Islam is at WAR with the Cross of Jesus Christ. We can’t sit by and let that happen.”

• Since 2018, the National Electrical Contractors Association’s policy on “Diversity and Inclusion” says it “embraces diversity as an integral factor for ensuring our industry’s viability.” It donated $2,500 to Ogles.

• The National Apartment Association offers “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Digital Resources” to members, and says, “We value and acknowledge our differences,” including “invisible traits” like “socioeconomic status, mental health and religion.” Its political committee gave Ogles $1,000.

Ogles lost a bid for a third term in Congress last month in Tennessee’s Republican primary.

‘They conquer. That is their plan’

In a three-month period starting in December, Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, co-founded a Sharia Free America Caucus in the House; wrote, “Don’t be fooled. Islam is on the march and seeks world domination,” and told reporters that Muslims “first infiltrate, then they divide, then they conquer. That is their plan.”

Since making those remarks, Self, a member of the Foreign Affairs, Veteran Affairs and Science, Space and Technology committees, raised more than $63,000 from political action committees.

• Toyota’s PAC gave Self $1,000. The company says on its website that it “encourages all team members to … benefit society, and make the world a better place.”
• Samsung’s PAC donated $1,000. The company’s website says it examines “whether our choice of words or images used in our products and services could unintentionally harm or marginalize anyone.”
• Ericsson’s CEO says on its website that diversity and inclusion “gives us a competitive advantage.” The company’s code of conduct includes the headline, “Treat everyone respectfully, inclusively and with dignity.” In describing its work environment, the company says, “We do not tolerate any forms of harassment, discrimination” including “hostility, humiliation, discrimination …” Ericsson’s PAC donated $1,000 to Self.
• The Allied Pilots Association PAC gave Self $2,500. The association prohibits members from using APA platforms to spread “hate speech” or making statements that are “inappropriate about another person or group of people based on, but not limited to, age, marital status, religion …”

‘The problem is mainstream Islam’

On Oct. 7, 2023, the day Hamas fighters killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 people hostage in Israel, Randy Fine, then a member of the Florida Legislature, wrote: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will never be.” Hours later he wrote, “From the river to the sea, there will be nothing left to see.”

While campaigning for an open Congressional seat in 2025, he called his main opponent, a convert to Islam, “‘Jihad Josh’ Weil”, “Jihadi Josh Weil,” and #JihadJosh.

After winning that election, Fine has used his congressional X account to disparage Islam and its practitioners. In September 2025 he wrote, “We need to stop pretending Islam is compatible with American values.” In November, he wrote, “Islam is not compatible with Western values,” and “It is time to face the Muslim problem.” The same month, he wrote, “The problem is not radical Islam. The problem is mainstream Islam.”

Fine, who sits on the Foreign Affairs and Education committees, has since raised more than $100,000 from numerous political action committees.

• Bacardi’s PAC gave $500. The spirits maker says one of its “pillars” is “Community,” which includes a tab for “Belonging at Bacardi.” Under it reads: “We’re committed to representation, inclusion, and prosperity for all, supporting through initiatives, partnerships, and fostering an inclusive culture.” Bacardi’s code of conduct says it does “not tolerate any form of discrimination” based on religion or other protected status.
• The International Association of Firefighters, which gave Fine $1,000 through its political committee, encourages the creation of “human relations committees,” which it says benefits local unions by “Proactively promoting diversity and inclusion within your local.” Its anti-discrimination policy says it, “stands unequivocally opposed to discrimination and harassment in all of its forms and in all types of environments.”
• The PAC representing health care giant CVS contributed $2,500 to Fine. The company’s Human Rights Policy says “At CVS Health, we are fundamentally committed to respecting and supporting internationally recognized human rights.” It also says, “Our continued success depends on the full participation of all qualified persons regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, color, religion …”.

‘Islam is not a religion’

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has made a series of Islamophobic remarks in recent months. “I won’t stop fighting until America WAKES UP to the threat of Islam,” he wrote in October 2025. In November, he wrote that America “must IMMEDIATELY BAN all ISLAM immigrants.” In December he wrote in a post, “Islam is not a religion. It’s a cult.” and “We’ve got to SEND THEM HOME NOW or we’ll become the United Caliphate of America.”

This March Tuberville claimed Islam “is fundamentally incompatible with our Christian values,” and vowed “I will continue shouting from the rooftops that Islam is NOT COMPATIBLE with our American way of life.”

After those remarks Tuberville, who is running for governor in his home state, reported raising nearly $6.6 million in donations from political action committees and business entities, according to Alabama campaign finance records.

• Charter Communications’ PAC contributed $25,000 to Tuberville’s campaign for governor. A 2024 statement from the company says it makes political donations “Consistent with our commitment to ethical business conduct,” and “to further the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.”
• Airbnb, which gave Tuberville $35,000 through its PAC, said in 2021 it removed 1.4 million users from its platform who did not agree to its “Community Commitment,” which requires people to “affirmatively agree” to treat “everyone in the Airbnb community — regardless of their race, religion … with respect, and without judgment or bias.”
• Comcast said in March that “one of our core values is our respect for each other” and that its commitment to “respect and inclusion” extends to its employers, customers, programming and “the communities we serve.” “Harassment and discrimination,” Comcast says, “are not tolerated in any form.” Its PAC gave Tuberville’s campaign $40,000.

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