'Muslim conquest!' GOP lawmaker melts down over plans for halal restaurant at Capitol

Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) is enraged over the planned establishment of a halal food restaurant in the Capitol complex.

On Friday, one of the many changes announced to the dining options in the House campus was the replacement of Steak n' Shake, which first opened in the Rayburn House Office Building in 2019, with a location of CHA Street Food, a popular Northern Virginia chain known for serving Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

"Known for their American-influenced Asian cuisine, CHA Street Food will serve breakfast, bowls, sandwiches, wraps, a wide array of sides, and specialty drinks," said an email announcement going out to staffers and members of Congress. "Favorites include their Zinger Burger, Chicken Tikka Roll (or salad), and samosa appetizers. Additionally, CHA Street Food will offer rewards points, online ordering, and bulk-order catering."

To Collins, however, this was a much more sinister development.

"They’re replacing Steak n Shake with a halal restaurant," Collins posted to X. "This is equivalent to the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in the 7th century."

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Collins, who has come under fire for cheering on a video of Ole Miss students making monkey noises at a Black classmate, suggesting with no evidence that former President Joe Biden "gave the orders" to assassinate President Donald Trump, and asserted immigrants are stealing and eating ducks from city parks, attracted immediate scorn and mockery for his outburst.

"This is so ridiculous. The quote. Learn what halal means," wrote Punchbowl News founder John Bresnahan.

"I don't know that I've ever seen Mike Collins express a coherent opinion about a policy he supports or opposes," wrote Georgia trial attorney Andrew Fleischman. "It's pretty much just noticing whether people he doesn't like are jews or muslims."

"Please don't reenact the crusades over a restaurant," wrote Congressional staffer Aaron Fritschner. "I get that you are into edgelord trolling and racism-signaling but you don't have to swing at every pitch, Congressman. Good food is good food."