Texas Rep. Crenshaw Faces Backlash Over ‘Cheesy’ Concealed Carry Gear Ad
By Jake Beardslee ·
June 29, 2024
Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) stirred controversy on social media Friday with a promotional post for concealed carry holsters, drawing criticism from various commentators including fellow conservatives. Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / Wikimedia
In a post on X, Crenshaw advertised "Endex Fitness" brand holsters, framing it as a celebration of Second Amendment rights ahead of Independence Day. He detailed the product's features, claiming superior design over competitors. @DanCrenshawTX
"No better way to celebrate Independence Day than stylishly exercising your 2nd Amendment rights," Crenshaw wrote, accompanying his post with a demonstrative video. Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / Wikimedia
The congressman insisted he doesn't profit personally from the sales, stating, "The profits for this clothing line go almost entirely to funding US House races around the country and growing the Republican majority." Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / Wikimedia
However, the promotion was met with skepticism and criticism on social media. Joshua Reed Eakle, @JoshEakle, founder of Project Liberal, responded: "Get elected as a Republican. Go to Congress. Become a grifter."
One X user, @bikesalsa, commented: "No, it's cheesy." @bikesalsa / X
Heath Mayo, @HeathMayo, a conservative activist, questioned the trend of elected Republicans engaging in product promotions, writing, "What is with this trend of elected Republicans doing these product infomercials? Like, how do they sit there and think: 'Yeah, this is a good idea.' What are we doing here? I'm begging you guys — stop this, please."
This incident follows other controversial product endorsements by Republican lawmakers, including a recent case involving South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, which resulted in a false advertising lawsuit, according to CBS News. Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / Wikimedia
Crenshaw's promotion also reignited discussions about potential conflicts of interest. One X user, @IsntChrisL, referenced past accusations of insider trading against Crenshaw, underlining ongoing concerns about ethical standards in Congress, stating: "What are you doing, bro? The Congress pipeline already allows you to get rich with insider trading and then continue the corruption with a lobbying gig once your voters finally boot you. You're screwing up the whole system and doing infomercials while you're still in office." @IsntChrisL / X
As of now, Crenshaw has not responded to the criticism surrounding his promotional post. Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / Wikimedia
