U.S. Congressman Brandon Gill speaking with attendees at the Republican Jewish Coalition's 2026 Annual Leadership Summit at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Courtesy of Gage Skidmore | Flickr)
This Republican wants the world to know he stands with child predators — or at least, that's what his new attack ad mistakenly suggests.
U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) ran into trouble this weekend as he tried to hurl insults at state Rep. James Talarico and missed the mark.
"James Talarico talks like us but he votes like AOC and Bernie Sanders," Gill warns. "He has no business representing our state."
The ad features Gill driving down a country road listing off claims about Talarico's character, which appear in bold writing next to his face.
The problem, as communications director for Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) was quick to point out, was that the bold writing did not include an important point of context: Talarico's name.
"One free piece of comms advice," Sahil Mehrotra wrote on X, "is to never, ever make an ad with the words "STANDS WITH CHILD PREDATORS" next to your face."
This is not the only baseless claim Gill tries to hurl at Talarico as he drives along the highway.
Viewers watching on mute will see Gill apparently throwing support behind "China owning Texas land" and protecting "genital mutilation surgery for children," a description, not based in fact, of trans medical care.
The ad drew widespread scorn.
"Everybody thinks he’s going to be president until they hear him talk," snapped journalist Christopher Hooks.
"Absolutely incredibly comms mistake right here," replied Polling USA. "LMFAO."
"Weird flex by MAGA nutjob Brandon Gill in his new ad but OK I guess," wrote President Donald Trump biographer Seth Abramson. "I have grudging respect for Republicans finally admitting that their party has adopted a platform that systematically protects child predators above everyone else."