- Ogles faced widespread criticism for comments perceived as advocating violence toward Palestinians and expressing “kill them all” sentiments in response to Gaza activism, leading to multiple editorials and news outlets labeling his remarks as cold and callous (Tennessean, Knoxville News-Sentinel, Jackson Sun).
- His introduction of punitive legislation targeting campus demonstrators—including a bill mandating community service in Gaza and revoking visas—could be framed as extreme and potentially violating civil liberties (Daily News Journal, Commercial Appeal).
- Ogles consistently opposed further U.S. aid to Ukraine and criticized prioritizing Ukraine over domestic issues, but notably refused to comment on Russian annexation of Ukrainian territories despite repeated media requests (Tennessean, Knoxville News-Sentinel).
- His public focus on China as America’s top threat may be seen as lacking nuance or as using fear-based rhetoric, especially when contrasted with perceived openness by other Tennessee leaders to working with China (Tennessee Star, Columbia Daily Herald).
- Ogles’ push for acquisition of Greenland and support for Trump-era proposals can be used by opponents to paint him as unserious or focused on fringe priorities rather than mainstream foreign policy issues (Oak Ridger, Columbia Daily Herald).
August 2021: Ogles Highlighted Concerns About Tennessee's Response To China According to Tennessee Star, "On the topic of China, Ogles reminded that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told attendees of the National Governor’s Association that it is our biggest threat. Yet, Lee, is on the record as wanting to have a closer relationship with China, Ogles said." [Tennessee Star, 8/2/21]
August 2023: Andy Ogles Named Chinese Communist Party As America's Biggest Threat According to Columbia Daily Herald, "Ogles said he believes the Chinese Communist Party is the biggest threat to America. 'They think in terms of dynasty. That's not rhetoric, that's not conspiracy theory,' he said, explaining that the party consistently tries to 'hack' the U.S.'s electrical grid." [Columbia Daily Herald, 8/17/23]
2024: Ogles Introduced Legislation To Punish Campus Protestors According to The Daily News Journal, "Ogles introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at punishing demonstrators who commit crimes. One, dubbed the 'Antisemitism Community Service Act,' would require any person convicted of unlawful activity on university campuses in the United States since Oct. 7, 2023 to provide community service in Gaza for no less than six months. Another would revoke visas for demonstrators who riot or participate in unlawful protests." [Daily News Journal, 5/13/24]
May 2024: Ogles Introduced Bills To Punish Student Protestors Supporting Gaza According to Columbia Daily Herald, "Ogles introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at punishing demonstrators who commit crimes. One, dubbed the 'Antisemitism Community Service Act,' would require any person convicted of unlawful activity on university campuses in the United States since Oct. 7, 2023 to provide community service in Gaza for no less than six months. Another would revoke visas for demonstrators who riot or participate in unlawful protests." [Columbia Daily Herald (Tennessee), 5/13/24]
2024: Ogles Introduced Legislation To Punish Campus Protesters According to The Commercial Appeal, "Ogles introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at punishing demonstrators who commit crimes. One, dubbed the 'Antisemitism Community Service Act,' would require any person convicted of unlawful activity on university campuses in the United States since Oct. 7, 2023 to provide community service in Gaza for no less than six months. Another would revoke visas for demonstrators who riot or participate in unlawful protests." [Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), 5/14/24]
September 2017: Ogles Criticized Bob Corker For His Approach To The Iranian Nuclear Agreement According to Daily Herald, "He criticized Corker for not being stringent enough on the Iranian nuclear agreement, and said the senator should be held accountable if Iran were to develop nuclear weapons in the future." [Daily Herald, 9/27/17]
September 2023: Ogles Called For An End To U.S. Funding For Ukraine According to Knoxville News-Sentinel, "Ogles is one of a cabal of right-wing conservatives seeking to reduce overall federal spending to pre-pandemic levels. 'No more funding for Zelenskyy,' Ogles wrote in a social media post last week. 'Biden is sending $325 MILLION more to Ukraine but is turning a blind eye to the humanitarian CRISIS at our southern border? @POTUS stop prioritizing everyone else above Americans,' Ogles wrote in another post." [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 10/1/23]
September 2023: Ogles' Office Did Not Respond To Request For Comment On Russian Annexation According to Knoxville News-Sentinel, "Ogles' office did not respond to a request for comment on whether the congressman supports Russian annexation of occupied sovereign Ukrainian territories." [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 10/1/23]
October 2023: Ogles Did Not Comment on Russian Annexation of Ukrainian Territories According to The Daily News Journal, "Ogles' office did not respond to a request for comment on whether the congressman supports Russian annexation of occupied sovereign Ukrainian territories." [Daily News Journal, 10/1/23]
October 2023: Ogles Declined To Comment On Support For Russian Annexation Of Ukrainian Territories According to The Leaf-Chronicle, "Ogles' office did not respond to a request for comment on whether the congressman supports Russian annexation of occupied sovereign Ukrainian territories." [Leaf-Chronicle, 10/1/23]
2023: Ogles Declined To Comment On Russian Annexation Of Ukrainian Territories According to Tennessean, 'Ogles' office did not respond to a request for comment on whether the congressman supports Russian annexation of occupied sovereign Ukrainian territories.' [Tennessean, 10/1/23]
October 2023: Andy Ogles Did Not Respond To Inquiry On Russian Annexation Of Ukrainian Territories According to Columbia Daily Herald, "Ogles' office did not respond to a request for comment on whether the congressman supports Russian annexation of occupied sovereign Ukrainian territories." [Columbia Daily Herald, 10/2/23]
February 2024: Andy Ogles Stated 'We Should Kill Them All' To Palestinian Activist, Specified Hamas According to The Tennessean, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles is facing criticism after telling a Palestinian activist he thinks 'we should kill them all' after she confronted him about the deaths of children in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, though Ogles' office said he referred specifically to Hamas." [Tennessean, 2/22/24]
February 2024: Ogles Clarified Comments Targeted Hamas, Not Palestinians According to The Tennessean, "The Congressman was not referring to Palestinians, he was clearly referring to the Hamas terrorist group," Ogles spokesperson Emma Settle said by email in response to a Tennessean request for comment. [Tennessean, 2/22/24]
February 2024: Ogles Attributed Ongoing Violence To 'Hamas and the Palestinians' Attacking Israel According to The Tennessean, "Hamas and the Palestinians have been attacking Israel for 20 years. It is time to pay the piper," Ogles said. [Tennessean, 2/22/24]
February 2024: Andy Ogles Stated 'Death to Hamas' in Video Exchange According to The Tennessean, '"Death to Hamas," Ogles said as a final comment, turning toward the camera before walking away.' [Tennessean, 2/22/24]
February 2024: Ogles Faced Criticism For Comments About Killing Members Of Hamas According to Columbia Daily Herald, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles is facing criticism after telling a Palestinian activist he thinks 'we should kill them all' after she confronted him about the deaths of children in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, though Ogles' office said he referred specifically to Hamas." [Columbia Daily Herald, 2/23/24]
February 2024: Ogles' Office Clarified That His Remarks Targeted Hamas According to Columbia Daily Herald, 'The Congressman was not referring to Palestinians, he was clearly referring to the Hamas terrorist group,' Ogles spokesperson Emma Settle said by email in response to a Tennessean request for comment. [Columbia Daily Herald, 2/23/24]
February 2024: Ogles Criticized Both Hamas And Palestinians In Videoed Exchange According to Columbia Daily Herald, in the video Ogles said, 'Hamas and the Palestinians have been attacking Israel for 20 years. It is time to pay the piper.' [Columbia Daily Herald, 2/23/24]
February 2024: Ogles Stated 'Death To Hamas' In Capitol Exchange According to Columbia Daily Herald, 'Death to Hamas,' Ogles said as a final comment, turning toward the camera before walking away. [Columbia Daily Herald, 2/23/24]
2024: Ogles Responded to Palestinian Activists With Call to Kill 'Everybody in Hamas' According to an editorial published in Tennessean, "After being pressed about the deaths of children and families in Gaza, Ogles said: 'I think we should kill them all, if that makes you feel better. Everybody in Hamas.'" [Editorial - Tennessean, 2/24/24]
2024: Tennessean Editorial Board Criticized Ogles' Comments as Cold and Callous According to an editorial published in Tennessean, "Ogles' response to fellow citizens who were advocating for the dignity and right to life of ordinary Gazans was cold, callous and cruel." [Editorial - Tennessean, 2/24/24]
2024: Knoxville News-Sentinel Editorial Board Criticized Andy Ogles's Comments on Gaza According to an editorial published in Knoxville News-Sentinel, "After being pressed about the deaths of children and families in Gaza, Ogles said: 'I think we should kill them all, if that makes you feel better. Everybody in Hamas.' [...] Ogles' response to fellow citizens who were advocating for the dignity and right to life of ordinary Gazans was cold, callous and cruel." [Editorial - Knoxville News-Sentinel, 2/25/24]
2024: Andy Ogles Stated Support for Killing All Members of Hamas According to an editorial published in Knoxville News-Sentinel, "After being pressed about the deaths of children and families in Gaza, Ogles said: 'I think we should kill them all, if that makes you feel better. Everybody in Hamas.'" [Editorial - Knoxville News-Sentinel, 2/25/24]
2024: Ogles Responded to Palestinian Activists With Controversial Statement About Hamas According to an editorial published in Jackson Sun, "Ogles' response to Palestinian activists, which was recorded on video and has gone viral. After being pressed about the deaths of children and families in Gaza, Ogles said: 'I think we should kill them all, if that makes you feel better. Everybody in Hamas.'" [Editorial - Jackson Sun, 2/25/24]
2024: Jackson Sun Editorial Board Criticized Ogles’ Statement to Activists According to an editorial published in Jackson Sun, "Ogles' response to fellow citizens who were advocating for the dignity and right to life of ordinary Gazans was cold, callous and cruel. He might have said it in the heat of the moment or maybe it was his innate sentiment. Either way, he should not have said it." [Editorial - Jackson Sun, 2/25/24]
2024: Andy Ogles Responded to Activist With Comment on Gaza Killings According to an opinion piece in The Ledger: Nashville Edition (Tennessee), "Andy Ogles most recently distinguished himself when confronted by an activist over the killings of Palestinian children in Gaza by Israeli forces and saying this: 'I think we should kill them all, if that makes you feel better. Everybody in Hamas.'" [The Ledger: Nashville Edition (Tennessee), 3/1/24]
2024: Ledger Attributed Statement to Andy Ogles on Gaza Killings According to an opinion piece in Ledger: Knoxville Edition, "Andy Ogles most recently distinguished himself when confronted by an activist over the killings of Palestinian children in Gaza by Israeli forces and saying this: 'I think we should kill them all, if that makes you feel better. Everybody in Hamas.'" [Ledger: Knoxville Edition - None, 3/1/24]
2023: Trina Baum Urged Andy Ogles to Advocate for Ceasefire and Diplomacy in Israel-Gaza Conflict According to a letter to the editor published in Tennessean, "I call on President Biden and my representatives in Congress, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. Bill Hagerty and Rep. Andy Ogles, to respond to this escalating war in the Mideast with recommendations that will de-escalate the tension, save lives, and bring the hostages home as follows: 1. Advocate for a cease fire to allow for diplomacy to work. 2. Advocate that both sides respect international humanitarian law and protect innocent lives. 3. Advocate that leaders recognize the root causes of violence." [Letter to the Editor - Tennessean, 10/29/23]
July 2023: Ogles Asserted Israel Is America's Greatest Ally In Middle East According to Chattanooga Times Free Press, "Israel is America's greatest ally in the Middle East, and to call it 'racist' is not only disgustingly antisemitic but threatens the strength of the relationship between our nations." [Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/24/23]
Ogles Justified Interest In Greenland Citing Security And Resources Concerns In 2025 According to Oak Ridger, 'It might sound crazy, and one might ask why would you want Greenland?" Ogles said in a recent streaming interview. "But if you look at the activities of China and Russia in the Arctic Circle, they are literally operating on our doorstep. Not to mention, Greenland is rich with resources, and China has been making a play for those resources. So we have an obligation to the American people... to secure that territory."' [Oak Ridger, 1/27/25]
Ogles Cited International Security And Resource Concerns In 2025 Greenland Acquisition Bill According to The Jackson Sun, Ogles said in a recent streaming interview, "But if you look at the activities of China and Russia in the Arctic Circle, they are literally operating on our doorstep. Not to mention, Greenland is rich with resources, and China has been making a play for those resources. So we have an obligation to the American people... to secure that territory." [Jackson Sun, 1/27/25]
2020: Andy Ogles Proposed 'Make Greenland Great Again' Bill After Trump's Proposal to Buy Greenland According to an opinion piece by Alex Mormorunni in Columbia Daily Herald, "After Trump introduced his questionable proposal to buy Greenland recently, Ogles proposed a 'Make Greenland Great Again' bill to enable the president to negotiate Greenland's purchase from Denmark." [Alex Mormorunni - Columbia Daily Herald, 3/16/25]
2020s: Andy Ogles Proposed Legislation to Enable Trump To Negotiate Purchase of Greenland According to an opinion piece by Alex Mormorunni in Daily News Journal, "After Trump introduced his questionable proposal to buy Greenland recently, Ogles proposed a 'Make Greenland Great Again' bill to enable the president to negotiate Greenland's purchase from Denmark." [Alex Mormorunni - Daily News Journal, 3/16/25]
Ogles Sought to Reduce Federal Spending on Ukraine Aid in 2023 According to The Daily News Journal, "Ogles is one of a cabal of right-wing conservatives seeking to reduce overall federal spending to pre-pandemic levels. 'No more funding for Zelenskyy,' Ogles wrote in a social media post last week. 'Biden is sending $325 MILLION more to Ukraine but is turning a blind eye to the humanitarian CRISIS at our southern border? @POTUS stop prioritizing everyone else above Americans,' Ogles wrote in another post." [Daily News Journal, 10/1/23]
2023: Ogles Sought To Reduce U.S. Funding For Ukraine According to The Leaf-Chronicle, "Ogles is one of a cabal of right-wing conservatives seeking to reduce overall federal spending to pre-pandemic levels. 'No more funding for Zelenskyy,' Ogles wrote in a social media post last week. 'Biden is sending $325 MILLION more to Ukraine but is turning a blind eye to the humanitarian CRISIS at our southern border? @POTUS stop prioritizing everyone else above Americans,' Ogles wrote in another post." [Leaf-Chronicle, 10/1/23]
2023: Ogles Opposed Further U.S. Aid To Ukraine According to Tennessean, 'Ogles is one of a cabal of right-wing conservatives seeking to reduce overall federal spending to pre-pandemic levels. “No more funding for Zelenskyy,” Ogles wrote in a social media post last week. “Biden is sending $325 MILLION more to Ukraine but is turning a blind eye to the humanitarian CRISIS at our southern border? @POTUS stop prioritizing everyone else above Americans,” Ogles wrote in another post.' [Tennessean, 10/1/23]
September 2023: Andy Ogles Opposed Further U.S. Funding To Ukraine According to Columbia Daily Herald, "Ogles is one of a cabal of right-wing conservatives seeking to reduce overall federal spending to pre-pandemic levels. 'No more funding for Zelenskyy,' Ogles wrote in a social media post last week. 'Biden is sending $325 MILLION more to Ukraine but is turning a blind eye to the humanitarian CRISIS at our southern border? @POTUS stop prioritizing everyone else above Americans,' Ogles wrote in another post." [Columbia Daily Herald, 10/2/23]
2023: Ogles Opposed U.S. Funding For Ukraine According to Commercial Appeal, 'No more funding for Zelenskyy,' Ogles wrote in a social media post last week. 'Biden is sending $325 MILLION more to Ukraine but is turning a blind eye to the humanitarian CRISIS at our southern border? @POTUS stop prioritizing everyone else above Americans,' Ogles wrote in another post." [Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), 10/2/23]
September 2023: Andy Ogles Called For Ending U.S. Funding To Ukraine According to The Jackson Sun, "'No more funding for Zelenskyy,' Ogles wrote in a social media post last week." [Jackson Sun, 10/2/23]
September 2023: Andy Ogles Criticized Biden Administration For Prioritizing Ukraine Over U.S. Border According to The Jackson Sun, "'Biden is sending $325 MILLION more to Ukraine but is turning a blind eye to the humanitarian CRISIS at our southern border? @POTUS stop prioritizing everyone else above Americans,' Ogles wrote in another post." [Jackson Sun, 10/2/23]
2017: Ogles Supported President Trump's Approach To Foreign Policy According to The Daily Herald, "People need to realize these are very serious times," Ogles said. "The president is on the right path in leading through strength. [...] I am very proud of our president today." [Daily Herald, 9/20/17]
September 2023: Ogles Did Not Respond To Query On Russian Annexation Policy According to The Jackson Sun, "Ogles' office did not respond to a request for comment on whether the congressman supports Russian annexation of occupied sovereign Ukrainian territories." [Jackson Sun, 10/2/23]
January 2024: Andy Ogles Visited U.S.-Mexico Border With Speaker Johnson And Other Republicans According to Knoxville News-Sentinel, "Ogles is one of 60 Congressional Republicans on a delegation trip to Eagle Pass, Texas, to tour the U.S. border with Mexico alongside U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson. In a news conference Wednesday, the group pledged not to approve any further funding to aid Ukraine and Israel until the Biden administration secures the southern border." [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 1/7/24]