LANSING, Mich., April 30, 2025 — Today, during a press conference, House Speaker Matt Hall turned to hateful and condescending attacks on the character of his colleague, state Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren). In response to this tasteless belittlement, Xiong (D-Warren) issued the following statement in response to his:

“I am deeply disheartened and disappointed by the recent remarks made by the Speaker of the Michigan House, in front of the press and dozens of colleagues on April 30, 2025. The Speaker referred to me as ‘a very low IQ representative’ and ‘probably one of the dumbest ones in the legislature.’ These words weren’t just disrespectful — they were meant to demean, belittle, and devalue.

“Let me be clear:

“What’s truly dumb is passing a state House bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico, a body of water thousands of miles away from Michigan and a waste of taxpayer dollars.

“What’s truly dumb is violating the Michigan Constitution by hijacking nine bills passed by the legislature, including one I authored to support our public workers, and blocking them from reaching the governor’s desk while pretending to hold veto power he simply doesn’t have.

“What’s dumb is canceling session, abandoning the work of the people, to go rub elbows with politicians.

“What’s dumb is taking credit for securing new fighter jets at Selfridge Air National Guard Base when the Speaker has voted against every budget bill that would have provided essential funding to Selfridge and Michigan’s military families.

“And while the Speaker uses the press and platform of the Speakership to tear others down, let me remind him, and the people of Michigan — who I am.

“I am a mother of four young children who will one day ask me why the highest elected official in the House called their mom dumb and ‘low IQ.’ I am a refugee and immigrant who came here seeking freedom. I am a daughter, sister, a wife, a friend. I am the first Hmong American elected — and currently only Asian American woman in the Michigan House of Representatives.

“What’s truly dumb is using a position of power to insult and diminish others, especially in front of colleagues and the press, instead of working together to solve the real problems our communities face.

“I was elected to lead, not to be intimidated. I will continue fighting for the people of Michigan with intelligence, integrity, and heart, no matter what names are thrown my way.”