House of Rep Candidate in US Publicly Burns Quran, Video Sparks Outrage

House of Rep Candidate in US Publicly Burns Quran, Video Sparks Outrage

  • Valentina Gomez, a Republican candidate from Texas, has sparked outrage after posting a video in which she burns the Quran while making inflammatory remarks about Islam
  • The footage has drawn condemnation from political leaders, religious groups, and social media users, raising concerns about rising hate speech ahead of the 2026 elections
  • Gomez, no stranger to controversy, previously called for the public hanging of migrants in a separate incident that led to her social media ban

Valentina Gomez, a Republican candidate contesting the 2026 elections for Texas’s 31st Congressional District, has ignited a firestorm of criticism after posting a video on social media platform X in which she burns the Quran, the holy book of Islam.

In the footage, Gomez is seen using a fire gun to set the Quran ablaze while delivering inflammatory remarks. She declared, “I will end Islam in Texas, oh God, help me. Muslims are committing murders to capture Christian countries.”

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House of Rep Candidate in US Publicly Burns Quran, Video Sparks Outrage
House of Rep Candidate in US Publicly Burns Quran, Video Sparks Outrage. Photo credit: ValentinaForUSA/X
Source: Twitter

She further urged viewers to support her political ambitions, stating, “Help me reach the parliament so that you never have to face the stones thrown by Muslims.”

The video has triggered swift backlash from political leaders, religious organisations, and social media users, many of whom have condemned the act as hate speech and a dangerous display of religious intolerance. Critics have raised concerns about the implications of such rhetoric in the run-up to the 2026 elections.

See the video below:

Past controversy: Gomez called for public hanging of migrants

This is not the first time Gomez has faced public outrage. In December 2024, she staged a provocative demonstration in New York, where she appeared to shoot a dummy representing a migrant. During the act, she called for the public hanging of migrants accused of violent crimes against Americans.

The video, widely criticised as inflammatory and inciting violence, was later removed from social media. Her Instagram account was also banned. In response, Gomez claimed, “The removal of my video and deactivation of my account shows all of you that I am the biggest threat to power because I say what I see.”

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Valentina Gomez: A history of controversy and activism

Born on 8 May 1999 in Medellín, Colombia, Valentina Gomez moved to the United States in 2009, settling in New Jersey with her family. She pursued higher education at Central Connecticut State University and earned her MBA in 2020. During her academic years, she was an accomplished swimmer, representing Colombia internationally as part of the Colombian National Swimming Team.

Gomez launched her political career in 2024 with a bid for Secretary of State of Missouri. Since then, she has remained a polarising figure in American politics, known for her outspoken views and controversial public actions. Her latest video has once again placed her at the centre of national debate, raising questions about the boundaries of political expression and the rise of extremist rhetoric in electoral campaigns.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Basit Jamiu avatar

Basit Jamiu (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Basit Jamiu is a journalist with more than five years of experience. He is a current affairs and politics editor at Legit.ng. He holds a bachelor's degree from Ekiti State University (2018). Basit previously worked as a staff writer at Ikeja Bird (2022), Associate Editor at Prime Progress (2022), and Staff Writer at The Movee (2018). He is a 2024 Open Climate Fellow (West Africa), 2023 MTN Media Fellow, OCRP Fellow at ICIR, and Accountability Fellow at CJID. Email: basit.jamiu@corp.legit.ng.

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