Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, delivered a viral speech at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, where he re-framed the increasingly common Democratic practice of land acknowledgments.
Instead of acknowledging land as historically belonging to Native American tribes and implying an apology for colonization, Gill opened his remarks by recognizing the land as the "ancestral homeland of great American patriots, pioneers and explorers who put down roots, fight for freedom all over the globe and bled and died to build the greatest civilization ever known to man."
The crowd responded with enthusiastic applause. Gill later told Fox News Digital that his approach was a direct response to what he views as Democrats' tendency to apologize for the United States. "Listen, you see Democrats all the time wanting to begin their conventions or their gatherings by acknowledging, making some bizarre land acknowledgment that we live on stolen land, and they essentially just want to apologize for our country," Gill said.
He added, "I think most Americans believe, rightfully so, that we live in the greatest country that's ever existed, and I'm not going to apologize for it…certainly most Americans don't want their elected officials apologizing for it either."
Land acknowledgments, which recognize the indigenous people of a region, have become a growing trend among Democratic politicians. However, the practice has drawn criticism from some Republicans who view it as an unproductive or apologetic gesture. An incident involving an official from Michigan's Democratic Party, who reportedly misstated the names of tribes during an attempt at a land acknowledgment, had previously spurred ridicule on the right.
Land acknowledgments were also noted at the Texas Democratic Party's nominating convention in Corpus Christi. Mention of Gill's speech circulated widely online, with many Republicans praising his reinterpretation of the practice. The Republican National Convention was held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.