Outgoing Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett is facing fresh criticism after a video surfaced in which she appeared to mock Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's disability, reigniting debate over her previous remarks about the Republican governor.
The video was posted to Crockett's X account on Wednesday. In it, she referenced an incident from Abbott's youth when a tree fell and paralyzed him while he was out jogging at age 26, leaving him partially paralyzed and wheelchair-bound.
"It was a tree that ended up making [Abbott] a part of the DEI class, just so y'all know. He is DEI, yes, because he is uniquely-abled, or actually he ain't abled, child," Crockett said in the video.
The comments follow backlash over her earlier "Governor Hot Wheels" remark made in 2025, which she denied was a reference to Abbott's use of a wheelchair.
Crockett lost the Texas Democratic Senate primary in March and did not seek re-election to her House seat. Her term is set to end in January 2027.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans swiftly condemned Crockett's comments as ableist and inappropriate for a sitting congresswoman.
Abbott responded with a post on X writing simply "Uniquely abled" alongside an AI-generated image of himself in a superhero costume while in his wheelchair.
Fox News contributor Joe Concha posted on X: "'I only mocked a paraplegic and suddenly people have a problem with me,'" adding that the remarks were widely criticized across political lines.
Other conservative commentators called the remarks "low IQ," questioning how such statements could come from an elected official. The governor's office referred inquiries to Abbott's social media response when approached for comment by Fox News Digital.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics on the left have pointed out that Crockett's comments, while inappropriate, should be viewed in the context of Abbott's policies on immigration and other issues.
In a prior statement about the "Hot Wheels" controversy, Crockett said she was not thinking about the governor's condition but rather his policies to deport illegal immigrants. "At no point did I mention or allude to his condition," she wrote at the time.
Some progressive voices noted that disability advocates have not uniformly condemned Crockett's remarks, and argued that discussions about Abbott should focus on his policy positions rather than personal characteristics.
What the Numbers Show
Crockett served three terms in the U.S. House representing Texas's 33rd congressional district, winning re-election in 2024 with approximately 73% of the vote.
Abbott has served as governor since 2015 and was re-elected to his fourth term in November 2024 with about 56% of the Texas vote.
The incident that left Abbott partially paralyzed occurred in 1984 when he was struck by a falling tree branch during a jog. He subsequently became an attorney and built a career in politics, becoming one of the longest-serving governors in Texas history.
The Bottom Line
Crockett's latest comments add to a pattern of remarks about Abbott's disability that have drawn bipartisan criticism throughout her congressional tenure. With her term ending in January 2027, these controversies will not affect her immediate political future but may shape her post-Congress career options and legacy. Disability rights advocates are expected to continue monitoring statements from elected officials regarding accessibility and representation issues.