Too many students showed up for a Belmont University College Republicans event with U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, a second-term Republican, on Monday morning. No classes are scheduled during the 10 a.m. hour, leaving campus dwellers ample time to fill the inside, outside and surrounding hallways of a ground-floor Janet Ayers Academic Center classroom, some holding signs and others livestreaming Ogles’ remarks to a packed room guarded by campus security. Local press stalked the hallways too, eager to question one of Nashville’s more elusive politicians.
“The young Republicans here are a loud minority on campus,” says Ella Bat-Ami, a Belmont student and Tennessee resident who plans to vote against Ogles as he seeks reelection. “ I support having the voices of all political parties heard, but this is a person who has been straight-up bigoted. Arguing about taxes is one thing — it’s another to not believe an entire religion should be in our country.”
Bat-Ami refers to recent statements from Ogles denouncing Islam and Muslims writ large in America. Last month, the Council on American-Islamic Relations designated Ogles as an “Anti-Muslim Extremist.” He was also the subject of a resolution in the U.S. House from Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas condemning Ogles and Islamophobia.
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Ogles’ appearance at Belmont comes nearly a year after Tennessee's 5th Congressional District rep called for a federal investigation into the university for its HUB (Hope, Unity and Belonging) office resembling campus DEI initiatives. College Republicans leader Mya Goodmanson says she coordinated the appearance with Ogles' staff in recent weeks at the request of his office. Less partisan students showed up just to see if he would address his crossways history with the school administration.
“ I'm just here for the delicious irony of this, since he was so adamant about defunding us,” says Nelson Hester, a student constituent and Williamson County resident. “It’s delightfully ironic that he's here. He just strikes me as a charlatan and a grifter, and I've been sorely underwhelmed and unhappy with him.”
Belmont student protesters yell down the hall at U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, April 27, 2026
Ogles emerged from the student town hall after roughly 45 minutes to jeers. Many yelled that Ogles was anti-Muslim, anti-queer and a misogynist. Shielded by his “bubble” from vocal students, whom he later likened to 3-year-old children, Ogles sat for questions in a nearby study room. He said he stands by a post on X from early March saying Muslims “don’t belong in American society” and repeatedly opened a folder to quote statistics on sexual violence and terrorism by immigrants in European counties.
“ They're about 10 years ahead of the U.S. as far as migration,” Ogles said during a press conference following the town hall. “We can have this conversation — I acknowledge it's a tough one — but then I go back to the terrorist attacks.”
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Ogles listed four terrorist attacks across Europe in March tied to extremist group Ashab al-Yamin, reportedly a front for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The incidents prompted him to personally write a letter to imams at American mosques, which he says have gone unanswered, fueling his personal fear of Muslims.
“I understand that asking them to condemn the violence and disavow the attackers is a big ask of that particular faith,” continued Ogles. “If you want to be a part of Western civilization, be a part of Western civilization.”
Ogles also defended himself against the “anti-Muslim” and “anti-queer” labels aimed at him, saying he is “absolutely not” either and supports others’ lifestyles, even if he does not share them.
Ogles has struggled to raise money amid mounting legal debt and a looming reelection campaign. Ogles is expected to face Democratic Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder on Nov. 3.
