Rep Derek Tran faces backlash for hosting CAIR leaders at Capitol Hill
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A California Democrat is facing backlash after hosting a Hamas-affiliated group at his office on Capitol Hill last week.
Rep. Derek Tran hosted a group of leaders from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as part of “National Muslim Advocacy Day,” an annual lobbying event organized by Muslim advocacy groups.
CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, was recently designated a terrorist organization by the states of Texas and Florida following accusations that the group supports funding of Hamas. The group has since filed defamation lawsuits against Governors Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis.
Among those attending the meeting Wednesday were Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR’s Los Angeles chapter; He has previously faced criticism for comments about Israel, including a past statement in which he said “Israel should be attacked.”
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Congressman Derek Tran stands next to CAIR leaders during National Muslim Advocacy Day 2026. (@RepDerekTranCA/X)
“I’m proud to host folks from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for an important conversation about combating Islamophobia and defending the civil rights of every member of our community,” Tran wrote in a post on Wednesday, X. he said.
“Representative Derek Tran has quickly earned the respect of many in his district,” Ayloush said in a separate post. he said.
Social media users quickly flooded Tran’s post, condemning her support for CAIR.
“It’s literally hosting terrorists,” one user said.
The event came after CAIR said Tran’s narrow victory over Republican Michelle Steel in 2024 helped strengthen her bid for the seat representing parts of Orange County and Los Angeles County.
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Congressman Derek Tran speaks at an event on Monday, March 9, 2026 in Buena Park, CA. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County, credited via Getty Images)
CAIR has long been accused of taking anti-Israel positions.
Following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, CAIR’s Los Angeles leader Ayloush said that it was a myth that Israel had the right to defend itself.
“An occupier never has the right to defend himself,” Ayloush said at a 2023 event hosted by the Islamic Society of Orange County. “The only people who have the right to defend themselves are the occupied Palestinian people.”
“Israel must be attacked,” he added. “If you continue to occupy peoples’ lands, you have every means available to defend and resist the occupation, according to international law.”
Hussam Ayloush, director general of CAIR, speaks at a press conference. (Marc Martin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Other leaders at CAIR echoed similar messages.
CAIR’s director general, Nihad Awad, reportedly applauded the October 7 attack: based on to the nonprofit Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI).
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“I was happy to see the people of Gaza break the blockade on October 7,” he said. “They prevailed. The people of Gaza have the right to self-defense. Israel has no right.”
In 2007, CAIR was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) case, in which five members of the HLF were convicted of conspiring to funnel $12.4 million to Hamas in the early 2000s.
