Congresswoman Shontel Brown Condemns Trump’s Comments on Haitian Immigrants, Calls for Unity
WASHINGTON D.C. — Congresswoman Shontel Brown (D-OH) made a forceful statement during a House Committee on Agriculture hearing this week, addressing recent comments made by the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, about Haitian immigrants in Ohio. Brown labeled the remarks as “barbaric” and “bombastic,” sparking immediate pushback from the committee’s chairman.
During her opening remarks, Brown, who represents Ohio’s 11th District, which includes Cleveland and surrounding communities, sharply criticized the statements. The comments, reportedly amplified by Congressman Jim Jordan’s House Judiciary Committee, have circulated on social media, spreading unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants in the state.
“Before I begin, I cannot let the debunked conspiracy theories about immigrants in Ohio go unaddressed,” Brown said. “The Republican candidate for president’s remarks about Haitian — meaning Black — immigrants in Ohio were barbaric, bombastic, and beneath the dignity of someone aspiring to hold the highest office in the land.”
Brown went on to emphasize the harmful impact of such rhetoric on her constituents, including the many organizations working to address food insecurity and poverty across her district.
“People are struggling, but these outrageous and racist lies are an insult to our Ohio communities — including the ones I represent here in Congress — and our food pantries, and our local programs and services that work tirelessly to combat hunger,” she added.
The congresswoman’s remarks underscored her broader message of unity, as she reminded the committee of the nation’s immigrant roots.
“We are a nation of immigrants, and trafficking in these baseless conspiracies is destructively divisive,” Brown said.
However, her comments about the former president did not go unchallenged. Dr. Andy Harris (R-MD), the chairman of the hearing, intervened shortly after Brown’s remarks, reminding her to refrain from making personal attacks against political candidates during the session.
“The lady will be reminded to not ascribe things to people who are candidates for the president,” Harris said. “It’s not appropriate at this hearing, and I would ask the lady to cease that; otherwise, I will have to have the word struck from the record.”
In response, Brown moved on from the topic and continued with her prepared remarks, turning the committee’s attention back to the central issues of the hearing—specifically the USDA’s Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and the challenges faced by food pantries and low-income seniors in her district.
While Brown’s criticism of Trump briefly shifted the focus of the hearing, her larger message addressed the pressing needs of Ohio’s 11th District, where food insecurity remains a critical concern.
Throughout her contributions to the hearing, Brown urged the USDA to take more effective action in addressing ongoing food shortages and delays in the CSFP. She called for greater accountability from the contractors involved in delivering food to Ohio’s food banks and expressed her frustration over the unmet needs of her constituents.
Brown’s remarks—on both the conspiracy theories and the food shortages—reflect her commitment to advocating for the well-being of her district’s most vulnerable residents, while also pushing back against divisive rhetoric she believes undermines those efforts.
As the hearing concluded, it was clear that Brown’s message of unity and advocacy resonated, particularly as she worked to bring attention to the crucial work being done by food pantries in Ohio. While the controversy surrounding her comments about Trump momentarily shifted the tone, Brown remained focused on the real-world impacts her constituents face.
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