A Republican congressional candidate endorsed by Donald Trump has said “devout” Muslim Americans should not be allowed in Congress because their belief system is “anti-American.”

Jerrod Sessler, a Navy veteran and former NASCAR driver, is running against incumbent Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse in Washington’s 4th District, which Newhouse has represented since 2015.

In an interview with the Yakima Herald-Republic, Sessler said: “There is no way that a devout Muslim should be in Congress, because they can’t take the oath of office. Their fundamental belief system is anti-American.”

The congressional candidate also cited passages in the Quran that call for nonbelievers to be killed. Many Muslims say the passages are often misinterpreted. Sessler also said that a majority Muslim Congress would threaten the security of the Constitution.

“What if the majority of Congress was Muslim?” Sessler told the Yakima Herald-Republic. “How safe and secure would our Constitution be? It wouldn’t be.”

Sessler told the Yakima Herald-Republic that, his own views aside, if elected he would engage with and be respectful of Muslim representatives in Congress.

He also told the paper that Muslims are welcome in America and that he supports Muslim Americans ascending to leadership positions, just not in Congress.

On social media, the Republican later defended his remarks.

In a comment on X, formerly Twitter, Sessler wrote: “As divisive as it is in America, Muslims may legally take the oath of office. Some even place their hand on the Quran which unequivocally calls for the killing of anyone that is not Muslim.

“It is nonsensical for people who love and appreciate all that it is to be American to vote for a Muslim, especially a radical one. Just because it is legal doesn’t mean it is helpful to the country, to our kids or to our future.”

This is not the first time Sessler has made such remarks. During the Washington primary in August, he argued that Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar could not uphold the constitution because she was a devout Muslim.

“Muslims cannot uphold the Constitution. It goes against their religious beliefs,” Sessler said, adding, “Shame on her voters for putting her there if they actually believe in America.”

There are three Muslim Americans in Congress: Omar, Indiana Representative André Carson and Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib.

Who Is Jerrod Sessler?

In addition to being a Navy veteran, Sessler is a former business owner and engineer. In 2004, he founded a maintenance company called HomeTask, Inc., but he has campaigned full time since his first political bid in 2021.

On his campaign website, Sessler described his “difficult and impoverished childhood” and positioned himself as “the poster child for the American dream.” If elected, his promises to defend the American dream, protect constitutional rights and national security, and be a voice for the country’s future. He is also committed to defending Second Amendment rights.

Sessler first ran against Newhouse in 2022, but he did not advance past the primaries. A Trump supporter, Sessler was in Washington, D.C., on January 6. However, he did not enter the Capitol. The former president has endorsed Sessler over Newhouse, one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot.

Newsweek has contacted the Trump campaign via email to ask whether the former president endorses Sessler’s opinions on Muslims in Congress.

In April, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Jerrod Sessler is a fantastic candidate and will be a GREAT Congressman for Washington State’s 4th Congressional district. A Navy Veteran, Entrepreneur, Loving Father and Husband, Jerrod will fight hard every day to secure the border, stand for the Rule of Law, strengthen our military, take care of our Vets, Defend our Nation, and protect our always under siege Second Amendment.”

In comparison, Trump called Newhouse “weak and pathetic.”

Source: Newsweek