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Last Updated on: 18th June 2024, 09:30 am
Rashida Harbi Tlaib is a Democrat who has served as the U.S. representative for Michigan’s 12th congressional district since 2019. This district encompasses the western half of Detroit, including several western suburbs such as Dearborn, Southfield, and a significant portion of the Downriver area.
Here are some more facts about Rashida Tlaib that may surprise you:
1. She Was The First Muslim Woman In Congress
Rashida Tlaib is the first Muslim woman to serve in the U.S. Congress.
She represents Michigan’s 12th congressional district, previously known as the 13th congressional district until 2023. Tlaib emerged as a prominent figure during the Democratic primary in August 2018, following John Conyers III’s retirement. She won with the most votes and went on to win the general election unopposed.
Tlaib’s victory gained attention as part of a far-left shift in Democratic politics. She emphasizes far-left campaigns and focuses on issues such as environmental justice, air quality concerns, and support for Palestine.
2. She Is The Oldest Of 11 Siblings
Rashida Tlaib is the eldest of 14 children born to Palestinian immigrants. She grew up in a working-class home in southwest Detroit, which was a predominantly African-American and Latino community. Tlaib graduated from Southwestern High School. Raised in a financially struggling household, she often took on responsibilities as a third parent, balancing schoolwork with helping care for her younger siblings, according to CNN.
After completing high school, Tlaib pursued higher education and graduated from Wayne State University in 1998 with a degree in political science. Later, in 2004, she obtained her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Throughout her life, Tlaib was deeply engaged in her community, advocating for immigrant and social justice issues. She also worked on immigration matters with the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services in Dearborn.
3. She Called President Trump A “Mother F****er”
Rashida Tlaib’s first act after getting elected was to threaten to “Impeach the mother f****” referring to President Trump.
During an event sponsored by the progressive group MoveOn, Tlaib told the story of the moment she won.
“And when your son looks at you and says, ‘Mama look, you won. Bullies don’t win,’ and I said, ‘Baby, they don’t,’ because we’re gonna go in there and we’re going to impeach the motherf****r,” she said.
During her first campaign, Rashida Tlaib made her stance on President Donald Trump’s impeachment unequivocal. She conveyed a strong commitment to pushing for impeachment once she assumed office, emphasizing her role as a potential juror in the process.
She expressed her intent to run for office with the goal of being part of the “jury” involved in the impeachment proceedings against the President.
“Why am I running? Because this is about electing the jury to impeach (POTUS), and I will make a heck of juror,” she wrote on X (then – Twitter).
Following the incident, Tlaib stood by her words, stating on Twitter that she would always speak truth to power and remained unapologetic. Her office released a statement affirming her belief in the need to impeach Trump.
4. She Is A Member Of The “Squad”
Rashida Tlaib is one of the original members of “The Squad,” a group of far-left Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives known for their left-wing policy stances.
The Squad was initially composed of four women elected in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib. They were later joined by Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush in 2020, and Greg Casar and Summer Lee in 2022.
Tlaib is known for her radical policies, such as her support of the Climate Activist group “Declare Emergency,” some of whose members were under investigation by the FBI, according to Fox News.
5. She Wouldn’t Condemn “Terrorists Chopping Off Babies’ Heads”
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched an attack on Israel, considered the worst attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Fox Business Network correspondent Hillary Vaughn repeatedly questioned Representative Rashida Tlaib about alleged gruesome acts by Hamas terrorists, specifically invoking reports of decapitating Jewish babies and burning children alive. This confrontation occurred in a House office building hallway and was aired on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime.”
Vaughn referenced distressing accounts of “babies’ heads being chopped off” in Israel, and asked Tlaib if she supported Israel’s right to defend itself against such brutality.
Tlaib chose not to respond to any of Vaughn’s questions and remained silent throughout the encounter.
Her refusal to support Israel after this brutal attack has raised strong backlash.
On October 11, Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI) introduced a resolution to censure Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib for her “antisemitism and disgraceful response to the attacks on our ally, Israel.”
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