U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has condemned a political cartoon published by the National Review that depicts her with an exploding pager, labeling it as racist and Islamophobic. Created by cartoonist Henry Payne, the cartoon references recent deadly explosions in Lebanon involving pagers reportedly used by Hezbollah members.
Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress and a vocal critic of Israel’s military actions, expressed concern that the cartoon would incite further hatred and violence against Arab and Muslim communities. “Our community is already in so much pain,” she stated on social media, arguing that such portrayals normalize racism and jeopardize lives.
The cartoon illustrates a woman labeled “Rep. Tlaib” beside an exploding pager, with her commenting, “ODD. MY PAGER JUST EXPLODED.” The title of the cartoon, “Tlaib Pager Hamas,” ignited outrage online, prompting condemnation from social media users. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud described the cartoon as “disgusting” and criticized the normalization of anti-Arab bigotry.
Support for Tlaib has come from fellow Democratic representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Cori Bush, along with various human rights organizations. Meanwhile, Payne, a political cartoonist for The Detroit News, has not yet publicly addressed the controversy.
The context for this outcry includes a series of explosions in Lebanon that have killed at least 32 people, including two children, and injured thousands. The Lebanese government and Hezbollah blame Israel for these incidents, though the Israeli government has not officially claimed responsibility, even as its defense minister commended the Mossad for its “great achievements.”
Tlaib has faced ongoing criticism and anti-Arab sentiment for her outspoken stance against U.S. support for Israel and its actions in Gaza. Despite being censured by the U.S. House of Representatives last year for her criticisms, she continues to advocate against what she terms human rights abuses in the region.
As tensions in the Middle East escalate, Tlaib and her supporters caution against rising Islamophobia and racism, urging media outlets to refrain from perpetuating further division.
