House Speaker Mike Johnson called the roadside threat against Representative Max Miller “yet another outrageous example” of political violence stoked by extremist rhetoric, after the Ohio Republican said he was targeted by a man displaying a Palestinian flag who forced his vehicle off the road.
“What happened to Max this morning is yet another outrageous example of unhinged rhetoric inspiring unstable people to threaten and attack elected officials who are serving their communities,” Johnson said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“We must turn down the temperature in this country. The U.S. Capitol Police is engaged with local law enforcement to help handle this case and ensure justice is served.”
The Context
The alleged attack on Miller, an outspoken supporter of Israel, has intensified concerns over the safety of lawmakers amid a rise in politically motivated threats and antisemitic incidents.
The confrontation comes just days after shootings in Minnesota that left one Democratic state lawmaker and his spouse dead and another wounded, fueling bipartisan calls for greater security for elected officials away from Washington.
What To Know
Johnson’s remarks came after Representative Max Miller, who is Jewish, reported being threatened along with his family on Thursday in Rocky River, Ohio. “Some unhinged, deranged man decided to lay on his horn and run me off the road when he couldn’t get my attention—to show me a Palestinian flag, not to mention ‘death to Israel,’ ‘death to me,’ that he wanted to kill me and my family,” Miller said in a video posted on X.
Miller described the encounter as “blatant antisemitic violence” and said he had reported the incident to both Capitol Police and local authorities.
The Rocky River Police Department confirmed to Fox News that a report had been made and that an investigation was underway.
“We know who this person is and he will face justice,” Miller said in a follow-up statement. “As a Marine, a proud Jewish American and a staunch defender of Israel, I will not hide in the face of this blatant antisemitic violence.”
The incident comes at a time of elevated alarm on Capitol Hill following recent politically motivated violence, including two shootings last weekend in Minnesota that left Democratic state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband dead, and State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife injured. Axios reported that members of Congress are now pushing for increased Capitol Police protection, particularly when traveling in their home districts.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on Congressman Max Miller and his family and are thankful they are safe,” House Democratic leaders said in a joint statement. “The rise in political violence in this country is unacceptable. This is a moment of crisis that requires Congress to act decisively in order to ensure the safety of every single Member,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar.
Miller, who was elected to Congress in 2022 and served previously in the Trump White House, has spoken openly about personal safety concerns stemming from his support of Israel. In a 2023 interview with Axios, Miller said he began carrying a firearm following a surge in antisemitic threats after the outbreak of war in Gaza.
In his latest remarks, Miller addressed the suspect directly. “If you have an issue, take it to our office,” he said in a video shared on Fox News. “You want to run me off the road, that’s a different story.”
What People Are Saying
House Democratic leaders said in a statement shared on Thursday: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack on Congressman Max Miller and his family and are thankful they are safe.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X: “We must turn down the temperature in this country. The U.S. Capitol Police is engaged with local law enforcement to help handle this case and ensure justice is served.”
What Happens Next
Threats against lawmakers have risen sharply, with U.S. Capitol Police reporting 9,474 incidents of concerning statements and direct threats in 2024—an increase from approximately 8,000 the previous year, according to USCP data.
Update 6/19/25, 11:30 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
The post Mike Johnson Reacts After GOP Lawmaker Was ‘Run Off The Road’: ‘Outrageous’ appeared first on Newsweek.
