‘Despicable behavior’ Republican Virginia Foxx faces backlash for asking reporter to ‘shut up’

Republicans lashed out at ABC News congressional reporter Rachel Scott, drowning her attempts to question newly nominated Speaker of the House nominee, Mike Johnson. The incident occurred during a press conference where Johnson, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, faced reporters' queries after his nomination.

Scott's attempt to question Johnson about his involvement in the efforts to overturn the 2020 election results was met with vehement opposition. Amidst a cacophony of boos and shouts, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert exclaimed, "Oh God," while Virginia Foxx of North Carolina commanded, "Shut up, shut up!" Another member of the party yelled, "Go away! Go away!" leaving the reporter silenced.

Despite the chaos, Johnson remained composed and simply said, "Next question." He made it clear that the press conference was not the platform for discussing policy matters, shutting down any further inquiries on the spot.

X users are criticizing the Republican response to the journalist's question. “80-year old former “educator” from North Carolina, Virginia Foxx. Despicable behavior,” one user wrote. “Look at Congresswoman Meemaw on the right. Virginia Foxx is one nasty elected official. The octogenarian needs to retire,” wrote another.

This incident comes at a crucial time for the Republicans, who have been grappling with internal struggles since the ousting of Kevin McCarthy earlier this month. Previous attempts to nominate a new Speaker, including contenders like Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, and Tom Emmer, had failed to gain consensus within the party. Emmer, initially selected as the candidate, withdrew his candidacy, following criticism from former President Trump, who labelled him as "out of touch" and a "Republican In Name Only (RINO)."

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Now, with Johnson as their nominee, the Republicans face a challenging path ahead. Johnson must secure 217 votes—a simple majority in the House—to assume the role of Speaker. The outcome of this crucial vote, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, remains uncertain. If Johnson fails to garner enough support, Republicans will find themselves once again in the search for a suitable nominee.

Meanwhile, this internal turmoil within the party has put a pause on legislative progress. The House remains unable to vote on significant matters, including a national security package that would provide crucial aid to Ukraine and Israel.