Republican Congressman Adds 51st State by Acknowledging ‘The Gentlewoman From Mexico’ on House Floor

Rep. Nick Lalota (R-NY) presided over an otherwise normal day of House business until he single-handedly admitted the United States’ southern neighbor to the Union on Friday.

Well, not quite.

Lalota sat in the speaker’s chair during floor action on a funding bill for the Department of the Interior. At one point, he sought to recognize Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), but omitted an important word.

“For what purpose does the gentleman from–” Lalota began, before correcting himself while committing another error “Excuse me, the gentlewoman from Mexico seek recognition?”

“From New Mexico, Mr. Speaker,” Leger Fernandez told him with a grin. “I have a motion!”

As members in the chamber hooted, Lalota could be heard asking the clerk next to him, “Did I say Mexico?”

After a voice vote on her motion to recommit, Lalota determined that the “no” votes prevailed. Leger Fernandez rose again.

“Mr. Speaker,” she said.

“The gentlewoman from New Mexico is recognized,” he said this time.

Leger Fernandez requested a roll call vote.

Friday was a day of misspeaks for Republicans in the House. In addition to adding Mexico as a state, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sent a fundraising email to supporters that contained a rather interesting line.

“The woke, liberal agenda puts Americans last. I want to put Americans FIRST,” the email read. “I refuse to put people over politics.”

Watch Manifest Destiny above via C-SPAN.