U.S. Politicians Respond to Attack on Titan Themed Anti-Immigration Video

Joseph Luster November 10, 2021

attack on titan

Over the weekend, Paul Gosar—who is the Republican representative for Arizona’s 4th congressional district—posted a controversial video parodying the first opening of the Attack on Titan anime. With the accompanying text of “Any anime fans out there,” the video proceeded to show the opening with an anti-immigration focus featuring the faces of his political rivals superimposed over Titans, which means depictions of people like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. President Joe Biden were taken down with the help of Republicans with 3D Maneuver Gear.

As you might have guessed, this didn’t go over well, and U.S. politicians have since responded with calls for consequences. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi wants the House Ethics Committee and law enforcement to investigate the issue, and has called for support from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California). Pelosi said that “Threats of violence against Members of Congress and the President of the United States must not be tolerated.”

Ocasio-Cortez said she doesn’t expect Gosar to face any consequences in a comment made to The Washington Post. Here’s her reaction:

So while I was en route to Glasgow, a creepy member I work with who fundraises for Neo-Nazi groups shared a fantasy video of him killing me

And he’ll face no consequences bc @GOPLeader cheers him on with excuses.

Fun Monday! Well, back to work bc institutions don’t protect woc https://t.co/XRnMAKsnNO

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 9, 2021

Some of the other reactions on Twitter included:

Representative Ted Lieu (D-California):

This is sick behavior from Rep. Paul Gosar. He tweeted out the video showing him killing Rep. Ocasio-Cortez from both his official account and personal account. In any workplace in America, if a coworker made an anime video killing another coworker, that person would be fired. pic.twitter.com/0ygBfE6bEL

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) November 9, 2021

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY):

What a disgusting video from a pathetic man. https://t.co/ems2IIcjEa

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 9, 2021

Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota):

This man should not serve in Congress. Fantasizing about violently attacking your colleagues has no place in our political discourse and society. https://t.co/tr2b4poD2m

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 9, 2021

Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland):

Rep. Gosar’s conduct is grotesque, dangerous and utterly disgraceful to the United States House of Representatives. We must address his intolerable assaults on the dignity of our body and safety of our colleagues. https://t.co/oR4qtIOjAt

— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) November 8, 2021

At the time of this writing, it appears that only Democrats have spoken out against the video. To add to that, a press release was issued via the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. Like Pelosi, the press release asked for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to take action against Gosar.

“From spreading lies about the 2020 election which led to a violent insurrection that injured police officers, to Mr. Gosar’s disgusting threats against the American President and a fellow Member of Congress, Leader McCarthy’s refusal to take violence seriously is dangerous,” said Cartwright, Dingell, Lieu, and Neguse. “In any other job in America, if a coworker made a video killing another coworker, that person would be fired. Mr. McCarthy needs to decide whether he will finally stand with the American people on the side of law and order or he will continue to support violence and chaos.”

Jennifer Gosar, Paul Gosar’s sister, called out political and justice leaders during an appearance on MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, saying that her brother has “not been held accountable in any way, shape or form.” On the other end of the spectrum, Jessica Lycos, who is Gosar’s digital director, issued a statement on Monday saying that “everyone needed to relax.”

Twitter added a disclaimer to the content for violating its “rules for hateful conduct,” but the social media service determined it “may be in the public’s interest for the Tweet to remain accessible.” However, it no longer appears to be on Gosar’s personal feed.

There is this, though: