Republicans on vacation amid the government shutdown were mocked Friday online for posting videos and photos of themselves shooting guns on their social media to apparently try to distract voters.
Rep. John James (R-MI) was reportedly vacationing in Turks and Caicos. TMZ caught wind of it and shared photos of the GOP lawmaker's getaway on Thursday — its most recent reporting on lawmakers fleeing the U.S. while government workers go unpaid.
In response, James posted a video of himself "unloading hand guns and assault rifles on targets and knocking out some pullups. Y'know? Super alpha male stuff," the outlet reported.
But that video from James, who is running for Michigan governor, was apparently from eight months ago, TMZ pointed out.
Sen. Lindsey Graham had made a similar move three days ago and posted a photo of himself with a gun "breaking clays," after TMZ caught him walking around Disney World with a pink bubble wand.
People had plenty of reactions online:
"Are you a Republican that TMZ found vacationing during a shutdown? Apparently you must respond by posting an image of yourself shooting a gun," Aaron Blake, CNN senior political reporter, wrote on X.
"So very manly," writer Will Pollock wrote on X.
"John James says he was at the gun range today in Michigan? Guys wearing shorts, leaves on trees, grass growing, yeah I’m not buying it. What a complete fraud. How stupid does he think we are?" User Donnie Detroit, who self-describes as MAGA/MAHA, wrote on X.
"Gurl please," professor and producer David Graham wrote on X.
