Valentina Gomez, a Republican contender for Texas’s 31st Congressional District in the 2026 elections, has sparked widespread outrage by sharing a video in which she burns a Quran while promising to “end Islam” in Texas. The 26-year-old posted the provocative clip on X before removing it amid heavy criticism.

In the footage, Gomez holds a flamethrower, setting the Quran on fire and declaring, “Your daughters will be raped and your sons beheaded, unless we stop Islam once and for all.” She further asserts, “America is a Christian nation, so those terrorist Muslims can f*** off to any of the 57 Muslim nations.” The video ends with her affirming that she is “powered by Jesus Christ,” making clear that religion underpins her political message.

Despite condemnation, Gomez stood firm, tweeting, “I stand by my actions & I will never bend a knee to the book that is responsible for the massacre of October 7th, took the lives of 13 US service members at Abbey Gate, & calls for our assassination.”

Gomez Interrupted Texas Muslim Event

Gomez’s history of inflammatory acts dates back months. In May 2025, she disrupted a Muslim civic engagement event at the Texas State Capitol by grabbing the microphone and shouting, “Islam has no place in Texas. Help me to Congress so we can end the Islamisation of America. I only fear God.” Security removed her from the event, which had included prayers and workshops.

Her campaign has embraced extreme rhetoric. In late 2024, she released a disturbing video simulating the execution of an undocumented immigrant, advocating for “public executions” of violent undocumented migrants. Earlier this year, she also filmed herself burning LGBTQ+ literature, pledging to outlaw such materials and making disparaging remarks about transgender individuals.

Social media users criticised Gomez for disrespecting a religious text that honors Christian figures. One user noted, “Jesus [is] mentioned positively 25 times and Mary 36 times in the Quran. Compare this to the Talmud. @ValentinaForUSA why did you disrespect Jesus and Mary for Zionists by burning the Quran?” Another commented, “The Quran honours Christians as ‘closest in affection’ (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:82) and reveres Jesus as a prophet and Mary as one of the most righteous women (5:75, 5:110). Her actions fuel hate, not understanding.”

Former Trump envoy Richard Grenell condemned her, writing, “Stop undermining the very First Amendment to the Constitution established by our forefathers. The US Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. You don’t understand our freedoms very well.”

Following the viral backlash, Gomez was banned from several platforms, including Instagram. She framed this as proof she was “the biggest threat to power” because she “says what she sees.”

Born in Medellín, Colombia, Gomez relocated to the U.S. in 2009 and previously ran unsuccessfully for Missouri Secretary of State in 2024, securing 7.4% of the vote. Despite setbacks and bans, she has gained a following by promoting far-right, controversial views.

International voices have also condemned her. Shaikha Ali Al-Marri, a senior Qatari official, criticised Gomez for siding with “a Zionist colonial regime,” urging her to “listen to the suffering of Christians in the Holy Land, in Palestine, under an Israeli regime that spits on, assaults, and kills them, bombing their cathedrals and desecrating their sanctuaries.” Al-Marri referenced an interview with Palestinian Christian Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos to highlight the struggles of Christians under occupation.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro labelled Gomez a “fascist” after she posted a video simulating the execution of migrants. The controversy also cost her brother, Jonathan Gomez Noriega, his job in the mayoral office of Jersey City due to campaign donation ties.

Known for leveraging religious and racial divisions, Gomez’s campaign relies on shock tactics targeting Muslims, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ communities. Her Quran-burning video has intensified calls for political accountability amid fears about the rise of hate speech in U.S. politics.