Tarrant County Republican Party leader publicly expresses bigoted comments against a fellow Texas House member with a Muslim background.
In August 2025, Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French sparked controversy with a series of anti-Muslim remarks targeting Democratic State Representative Salman Bhojani. French called for Bhojani's denaturalization and deportation, labelling him as "anti-American" and attempting to "further jihad"[1][2].
This was not the first time French faced criticism for his online behaviour. Just a month earlier, he was under fire for similar remarks, which resulted in calls for his resignation[1][2].
French's remarks represent a significant escalation in overtly inflammatory and religiously bigoted rhetoric from a prominent local GOP leader. The comments come amid the broader political tension surrounding a legislative quorum break by Democrats in Texas. Civil rights advocates have condemned the attacks as racist and anti-Muslim, emphasising the threat such rhetoric poses to minority political participation[2].
The local GOP leadership's stance appears ambiguous or permissive regarding such behaviour. Despite the controversy surrounding French's remarks, he remains chairman, and the party has not publicly distanced itself from his statements, suggesting either tacit tolerance or insufficient public censure of religious bigotry within the party's leadership at the local level[1][2].
Bhojani, one of the first Muslim Americans elected to the Texas Legislature, has faced similar challenges before. He reported receiving threats after French published addresses allegedly belonging to him, and he has previously faced backlash and investigations for his work on the North Texas Muslim development EPIC City[1][2].
French has been vocal in his goal to "make Tarrant County inhospitable for Democrats" by pulling the county GOP further to the right[1].
Meanwhile, a separate controversy has arisen in Texas politics. Several Democrats fled the state last week to block passage of a new congressional map designed to give the GOP five additional seats in the U.S. House next year[3].
References:
- Texas GOP leader under fire for anti-Muslim remarks
- Texas GOP leader Bo French under fire for anti-Muslim remarks, calls for Salman Bhojani's denaturalization
- Texas Democrats flee state to block new congressional map
Breaking news: The Texas GOP leader, Bo French, has been embroiled in a fresh controversy over anti-Muslim remarks directed at Democratic State Representative Salman Bhojani. This escalates a pattern of inflammatory rhetoric from French, which previously led to calls for his resignation. The local GOP leadership's lack of public condemnation of such remarks raises questions about tolerance for religious bigotry within the party's leadership. Investigations continue into French's activites, as he has previously faced backlash and investigations related to his work and personal conduct. Meanwhile, in separate Texas politics news, several Democrats fled the state last week to block the passage of a new congressional map. News on crime-and-justice, politics, war-and-conflicts, general-news, and local developments in Tarrant County are also being closely monitored.
