Tuberville Ignites a ‘Pearl Clutchers’ Firestorm with His Comments About Islam

Following the Bondi Beach attack in Australia, reports that the Brown University killer screamed “Allahu Akbar” as he opened fire, the ISIS murder of two American servicemen in Syria, and the arrest of a Muslim student at the University of Delaware who plotted a jihad attack against campus police, renewed attention has focused on Islamic jihad.

In that context, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) issued remarks that drew immediate responses from Democratic lawmakers and other officials.

Tuberville wrote Sunday, “Islam is not a religion. It’s a cult. Islamists aren’t here to assimilate. They’re here to conquer. Stop worrying about offending the pearl clutchers. We’ve got to SEND THEM HOME NOW or we’ll become the United Caliphate of America.”

Islam is not a religion. It’s a cult. Islamists aren’t here to assimilate. They’re here to conquer.

Stop worrying about offending the pearl clutchers.

We’ve got to SEND THEM HOME NOW or we’ll become the United Caliphate of America.

— Tommy Tuberville (@CoachForGov) December 14, 2025

The comments prompted swift reactions from Democrats. Sen. Ed Markey (D) responded, “These are hateful lies. Islamophobia has no place in our society. MAGA Republicans should stop spewing the kind of hate that divides us and foments violence.”

These are hateful lies. Islamophobia has no place in our society. MAGA Republicans should stop spewing the kind of hate that divides us and foments violence. https://t.co/fsGnE4OjFm

— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) December 15, 2025

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California State Senator Scott Wiener (D) also weighed in, writing, “It’s unwise to respond to every dumb a** bigoted thing people say on the internet, but when a United States senator — albeit the dumbest United States senator — calls for denaturalization & deportation of an entire religion, you have to call it out as the evil it is.”

It’s unwise to respond to every dumb ass bigoted thing people say on the internet, but when a United States Senator — albeit the dumbest United States Senator — calls for denaturalization & deportation of an entire religion, you have to call it out as the evil it is. pic.twitter.com/UaZyX8GhUE

— Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) December 16, 2025

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) added her response, stating, “The normalization and acceptance of Islamophobia in our politics is disgusting. Our Muslim neighbors are not Republicans’ scapegoats for antisemitic attacks and Trump’s failed policies. We must absolutely condemn Islamophobia loudly and hold those perpetuating it accountable.”

The normalization and acceptance of Islamophobia in our politics is disgusting.

Our Muslim neighbors are not Republicans’ scapegoats for antisemitic attacks and Trump’s failed policies.

We must absolutely condemn Islamophobia loudly and hold those perpetuating it accountable. https://t.co/kuYOILzR66

— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) December 15, 2025

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) issued his own statement, saying, “An outrageous, disgusting display of islamophobia from Sen. Tuberville. The answer to despicable antisemitism is not despicable islamophobia. This type of rhetoric is beneath a United States Senator – or any good citizen for that matter.”

https://t.co/1HUFcVhizV https://t.co/wvPHtnzvYl

— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) December 15, 2025

Tuberville’s remarks came amid heightened scrutiny of recent violent incidents linked to Islamic extremism.

The senator’s statement that Islam is not a religion drew criticism, though a religion does not require a moral framework to meet the definition.

A religion is generally defined as a belief system claiming to connect human beings to the divine, which Islam does claim to do.

At the same time, Islam is also described by critics as a political system.

The debate surrounding Tuberville’s remarks centered on whether Islamic texts promote political authority and conquest.

Critics of the senator rejected that framing, while Tuberville’s supporters pointed to Islamic writings as evidence.

Pakistani politician and Islamic scholar Maulana Maududi wrote in his commentary on the Qur’an that the purpose of fighting is “to put an end to the suzerainty of the unbelievers so that the latter are unable to rule over people.”

Maududi wrote that authority should be vested in followers of Islam and that unbelievers should live in a state of subordination, paying jizyah in return for protection as dhimmis.

A manual of Islamic law endorsed by Al-Azhar in Cairo states that the leader of Muslims “makes war upon Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians…until they become Muslim or else pay the non-Muslim poll tax,” citing Qur’an 9:29: “Fight against those who do not believe in Allah or the last day…until they pay the jizya with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.”

Muslim leaders have made statements asserting political dominance and conquest of Western societies, according to critics.

Those statements have been cited by supporters of Tuberville as evidence that his remarks reflect Islamic texts rather than prejudice.

The lawmakers who criticized Tuberville focused their responses on accusations of Islamophobia.

The question raised by the controversy was whether Tuberville’s statements about Islam’s political and supremacist teachings are accurate, and if so, how elected officials should address them.