U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) delivered a fiery warning during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C., cautioning voters not to fall for political tactics designed to pit communities against one another as the 2026 elections approach.
In a viral speech from last Friday, Crockett told the audience that Republicans would again attempt to “district and divide us” by exploiting social and cultural issues.
She argued that marginalized groups are too often scapegoated for economic challenges.
“But at the end of the day, it ain’t a trans person that is taking your job. It’s not a trans person that is going to make it to where your food is going to be more expensive,” Crockett said. “They played on your emotions.”
She argues that the same divide-and-conquer strategy has historically been used to stir resentment toward immigrants.
“The only immigrant that went around snatching jobs was Elon Musk,” Crockett quipped, drawing applause.
The freshman lawmaker stressed unity within the Black community and across diverse groups, telling attendees:
“I get that we as Black folk, we not a monolith. But when we roll down the streets, or our children roll down the streets, I don’t care how many degrees you got. They look at you, they see your skin, and we are all the same.”
Crockett closed her remarks by urging voters to remain focused on the bigger picture rather than being distracted by divisive rhetoric.
“The best thing that you can do after you get educated is make sure that you don’t allow anybody to distract and divide us. We got to make sure that we stay focused … on a future that is better, not worse, for our children,” she said.
The remarks have since circulated widely online, sparking mostly praise but some criticism for their bluntness and political candor.
