Rep. Dan Crenshaw, the Texas Republican once darling of establishment GOP, faces serious ethics complaints over his shocking hot-mic threats against Tucker Carlson. As the former Navy SEAL defends his words as “hyperbolic,” his critics – including many Trump supporters – aren’t letting this slide.
At a Glance
- Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw faces ethics complaints over saying he would “fucking kill” Tucker Carlson if they ever met
- The American Accountability Foundation filed a formal complaint, arguing Crenshaw’s military training makes his threats particularly serious
- Crenshaw claims his remark was not a literal threat but “hyperbolic” language
- The comments were caught on a hot mic during a British media interview and widely shared online
- The incident highlights ongoing tensions between establishment Republicans and Trump-aligned conservatives
Hot Mic Captures Shocking Threat
The political world was stunned when Rep. Dan Crenshaw was caught on a hot microphone threatening popular conservative commentator Tucker Carlson during an interview with British news outlet GB News on February 24, 2025. The Texas congressman’s unfiltered comments quickly spread across social media before the original video was removed, but not before igniting a firestorm of controversy that has now resulted in formal ethics complaints against the Republican lawmaker.
“If I ever meet him, I’ll fcking kill him,” Representative Dan Crenshaw said.
The shocking statement wasn’t just a passing comment. Crenshaw doubled down, adding: “I’m not joking. He’s the worst person.”
These remarks have led former undercover narcotics detective James Copenhaver to file an ethics complaint against the congressman, claiming his words are unbecoming of someone in his position and potentially violate House rules regarding threats of violence.
And now, Crenshaw is speaking out about what he said. But it might not save him from the many other complaints coming his way.
Ethics Complaints Mount Against Crenshaw
The American Accountability Foundation (AAF) has also filed a formal ethics complaint, requesting a thorough investigation into Crenshaw’s remarks. The organization argues that failing to sanction the Congressman could set a dangerous precedent, essentially giving a green light for elected officials to threaten journalists they disagree with. The complaint specifically highlights Crenshaw’s military background as a former Navy SEAL, suggesting his threats carry more weight given his training.
“If everyday Americans are held to professional and ethical standards in their jobs, members of Congress—who are public servants—must be held to the same, if not higher, standards,” James Copenhaver said.
The complaint also outlines what it describes as a pattern of unethical behavior by Crenshaw, including alleged failures to disclose stock trades and campaign finance violations. Critics have long labeled the Texas congressman as a “warmonger” and “globalist” who has repeatedly broken with Trump and the MAGA movement on critical issues like foreign policy and immigration.
The animosity between Crenshaw and Carlson isn’t new, by the way. Their feud has simmered for years, with fundamental disagreements over American support for Ukraine and Israel’s military actions against Hamas. Carlson has frequently criticized Crenshaw’s hawkish foreign policy positions, while Crenshaw has responded by calling the former Fox News host a “cowardly, know-nothing elitist.”
Their conflict escalated in January 2023 when Crenshaw labeled lawmakers opposing Kevin McCarthy’s bid for House Speaker as “terrorists” and “narcissists” – comments that Carlson strongly criticized on his program.
When news of Crenshaw’s threat emerged, Carlson responded by challenging the Congressman to an interview, tweeting: “Why don’t you come sit for an interview and we’ll see how you do? I’ll send you my address, @DanCrenshawTX.” Crenshaw has declined the invitation, stating he has no desire to be in the same room with Carlson.
Crenshaw Dismisses Criticism
Despite the growing backlash, Crenshaw has attempted to downplay the severity of his comments, claiming they were merely “hyperbolic” and not intended as a literal threat. He insists he has no actual desire to harm Carlson and that his words were simply a non-literal turn of phrase. This explanation has failed to satisfy his critics, particularly those aligned with Trump and the America First movement, who see this as further evidence of Crenshaw’s true character.
The controversy highlights the deepening divide within the Republican Party between establishment figures like Crenshaw and the growing populist, America First movement championed by President Trump. As the ethics complaints move forward, many conservatives are watching closely to see if Crenshaw will face any meaningful consequences for what many view as an unprecedented threat against a prominent conservative journalist.
