Rep. Jasmine Crockett Sparks Backlash After Comment on Republicans and the KKK

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D–TX) is facing criticism after a viral clip showed her saying, “Most Black people are not Republicans simply because we just is like, ‘Y’all racist. I can’t hang out with the KKK and them.’”

The remark, made during a recent interview, immediately drew pushback online — especially from conservatives, who were quick to point out that the Ku Klux Klan was originally formed by Democrats in the aftermath of the Civil War.

Historians note that while the KKK did emerge from the postwar Democratic Party in the South, the parties realigned over the course of the 20th century, with conservative Southern Democrats eventually joining the Republican Party during the civil rights era.

Even so, critics accused Crockett of oversimplifying history and fueling division, arguing that the statement reduces modern political dynamics to outdated stereotypes.

“The KKK was founded by Democrats. That’s not in dispute,” said political analyst Robert Drayton. “But today’s Democratic and Republican parties are completely different from what they were in the 1860s or even the 1960s. Using that history to paint an entire party as racist is disingenuous and unhelpful.”

Supporters of Crockett, however, say her comments reflect the deep distrust many Black voters feel toward the modern GOP, particularly on issues like voting rights, policing, and racial equity.

Crockett has not yet issued a clarification or apology following the backlash, though the clip continues to circulate widely across social media, sparking renewed debate about race, history, and partisanship in America.