RACIST REACTION: Rep. Crockett staff singles out “white girl” journalist at campaign event, orders security to remove her
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), a rising Democratic star and 2026 U.S. Senate candidate, is facing intense online criticism after her campaign reportedly had armed security guards remove Atlantic staff writer Elaine Godfrey from a rally in Lubbock, Texas.
The incident took place at an event supporting Crockett’s bid in the Democratic primary. Godfrey, who had identified herself at the entrance, spent roughly an hour in the press area and was interviewing attendees when a staffer approached her, checked her identity, and read from a phone note: “Elaine from Atlantic, White girl with a hat and notepad. She’s interviewing people in the crowd. She’s a top-notch hater and will spin. She needs to leave.”
Godfrey was then escorted out by four guards—at least one armed—and left standing on the edge of a county road until she could summon a ride. Godfrey recounted the episode in vivid detail in a first-person piece published Thursday in The Atlantic, noting the surreal contrast between the fired-up crowd and her abrupt ejection from a public campaign event.
The episode stems from prior friction: Godfrey’s July 2025 profile of Crockett quoted other House Democrats without prior notice to the congresswoman, prompting Crockett to declare she was “shutting down the profile and revoking all permissions.”
Crockett pushed back Wednesday on CBS News, insisting there is “no evidence” any reporter was removed and calling the story “silly season.” She referenced a journalist with a “history of being less than truthful” who had lost a defamation suit, though Godfrey flatly denied that description applies to her.
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The controversy has drawn bipartisan scorn on social media, with journalists across the spectrum labeling the move amateurish and potentially damaging for a candidate eyeing a tough statewide race.
Former CNN anchor Chris Cillizza called it “so bad… not ready for primetime,” while others questioned how Crockett expects to broaden her appeal in Texas if her team cannot tolerate questions from even a left-leaning outlet like The Atlantic.
The episode, coming on the heels of separate reports that her campaign called Capitol Police on a CNN reporter seeking access to her office, has fueled broader concerns about the congresswoman’s media strategy and temperament as she seeks higher office.