A pair of longtime Republican lawmakers went at each other's throats in a text chain over a long-burgeoning dispute about where to host a major international gathering, Semafor reported on Tuesday.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, lost his patience with Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) "shortly before they arrived at this year’s session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly," said the report. "Wilson has lobbied since 2024 to hold next year’s session in his home state."
Wicker, who serves with Wilson on the Helsinki Commission to monitor human rights in Europe, briefly seemed to get on board with this "when he signed a bipartisan letter in March that asked for $4 million in federal funding for the event," but later clarified the event won't be held in the United States at all, to the displeasure of Wilson, who kept bringing up the issue.
“We’ve been soulmates until Thursday afternoon, and then to be insulted that the arrangements for a catering have not been completed?” Wilson told Semafor. “I’m thinking, ‘Hey, we can prepare shrimp and grits so quick it would make your head swim.’”
After Wicker publicly announced the U.S. wouldn't host the summer gathering while Wilson was in flight to the Netherlands as part of Wicker's delegation, Wilson took to X and posted, “preparations are well underway with widespread support” for an OSCE event in Charleston, accompanied by a picture of himself with Trump.
This enraged Wicker, who blew up at Wilson in a text thread, according to Semafor.
“The matter is settled and no amount of your saying otherwise will change that,” said Wicker. “It is time for you to stop embarrassing yourself and the US delegation.” Wicker then added, “Unless, you immediately stop … You … ARE NO LONGER A PART OF CODEL wicker. PLEASE MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO RETURN TO THE US BY OTHER MEANS.”
Wicker would later apologize and clarify Wilson was still cleared to fly home with them as part of the delegation — but added that he is “disappointed that you are continuing to insist that the US can host in 2027.”