Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) faced widespread condemnation on Monday after sharing a meme that compared Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to O.J. Simpson and Spirit Airlines to Nicole Brown Simpson, who was brutally murdered. The post, made on Lee's personal 'BasedMikeLee' X account, was later deleted.
The meme referenced Warren's efforts to block the merger between Spirit Airlines and JetBlue during the Biden administration. Spirit Airlines recently declared bankruptcy, leaving passengers stranded. Lee captioned the image 'Nailed it' before facing backlash.
Critics, including Shannon Watts of Moms Demand Action, denounced the post as insensitive. One user questioned Lee's fitness for office, stating his behaviour was 'beneath the dignity of a Senator'. This incident adds to a history of controversial posts by Lee, including a 2023 suspension for threatening Japan's prime minister and a 2025 post blaming Governor Tim Walz for a murder.
Lee, a Tea Party figure who initially criticised Donald Trump, has since become a Trump ally. His conduct has been criticised as a breach of Senate decorum, particularly in Utah, where civility is valued.
