Comer Clashes with Frost Over Trump ‘Grifter’ Comment, Threatens Removal.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) threatened to remove Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) from a committee meeting on Tuesday after a fiery exchange over Frost calling former President Donald Trump a “grifter.”

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A Heated Exchange Over ‘Grifter in Chief’

During the discussion on government waste, fraud, and abuse, Frost took a sharp jab at Trump and Elon Musk, accusing them of leveraging their positions for personal financial gain.

“People like the grifter in chief, Trump, and President Musk are openly using their public offices to enrich themselves to the tune of billions of dollars,” Frost stated. “So, if we want to look at waste, fraud, and abuse, which I’m down to do, why is there complete silence on the other side of the aisle about looking at the complete grifter that … is the president of the United States and the richest man on Earth?”

Before he could finish, Comer interrupted, challenging Frost’s language.

Comer Calls Out Frost, Demands a Retraction

Comer quickly interjected, asking Frost if he wanted to “revise your remark with respect to improperly identifying the president of the United States.”

Unfazed, Frost doubled down. “I’ll say ‘President Musk’ and ‘grifter in chief Trump,’” he responded, refusing to back down.

Clash Over House Rules

The ranking Democrat on the committee, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), stepped in, arguing that Frost’s comments were directed at Musk, not Trump. “I don’t believe that Mr. Musk is protected by the rules of the House,” Connolly said, emphasizing that Frost had not technically violated protocol regarding the former president.

Comer disagreed, declaring that Frost’s words were inappropriate and violated House decorum. “The chair finds the words from the gentleman from Florida are not parliamentary because they constitute personalities toward the president,” Comer stated, referencing long-standing House rules that prohibit direct attacks on the president.

Tensions Boil Over: Frost Threatened with Removal

As the argument escalated, Comer barred Frost from further participation in the meeting.

Frost, visibly frustrated, pushed back. “I wanna say it’s despicable that this committee is going to silence me for bringing up—” he began before being cut off by a chorus of shouting.

Comer then turned to Connolly, warning, “If he doesn’t refrain, I’m going to have Frost removed.”

Political Fallout and Public Reaction

The dramatic exchange underscores the deeply divided nature of Congress, especially when it comes to discussions about Trump and the influence of figures like Elon Musk. Frost’s comments and Comer’s reaction are likely to fuel further debate over political accountability and free speech in congressional hearings.

The Hill has reached out to Comer and Frost’s offices, as well as the White House, for comment.

Why This Matters

This latest clash in the House Oversight Committee raises questions about the enforcement of House decorum rules, the boundaries of political discourse, and the ongoing scrutiny of figures like Trump and Musk. As tensions continue to rise in Washington, all eyes will be on how both parties handle these high-profile disputes moving forward.

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