Exclusive: James Talarico Said Christianity Is the ‘Most Violent’ Religion, Has Done ‘More Damage’ to Islam

Exclusive: James Talarico Said Christianity Is the ‘Most Violent’ Religion, Has Done ‘More Damage’ to Islam

Texas Democrat U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, who is running against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, has accused Christianity of causing unmatched harm while opposing President Donald Trump’s immigration restrictions on terrorism-prone nations and repeatedly aligning himself with Muslim communities.
Texas state Rep. and Presbyterian seminarian James Talarico said earlier this year in a New Yorker profile that Christianity is the “most violent” religion and has done “more damage” to Islam than it has done to any other religion.
The remarks stand in contrast to figures from the Cato Institute, which say radical Islamic terror has killed at least 3,100 Americans in the United States since 1975, along with thousands of U.S. soldiers overseas. The Cato figures also state that radical Islamic terror has accounted for 87 percent of terrorism-related deaths over the past 50 years.
In a clip provided exclusively to Breitbart News, Talarico spoke to the Pakistani American Council of Texas and criticized President Donald Trump for restricting immigration from countries described as radical Islamic terrorism hot spots. Talarico called Trump “a threat to all of us” and said he stands with his “Muslim brothers and sisters.”
Talarico has publicly supported Muslim Texans for years. In 2017, Talarico wrote, “Proud to stand with our Muslim neighbors today. Texas is big enough for all of us. #NoBanNoWall.” Critics of Trump’s policy frequently referred to it as a “Muslim ban,” though Breitbart News noted that the January 2017 order applied to countries previously identified as particularly vulnerable to terrorism, partly because of substandard internal record-keeping, including Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, rather than to Muslims generally.
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In 2016, he wrote on Facebook that he was proud to campaign for Sean Hassan, whom he described as a “smart, progressive, Muslim-American,” adding that he did so “just to piss off” Trump.
In 2021, Talarico wrote on X that Texas had “the largest population of Muslims in the country” and said he had introduced legislation to add imams to the list of religious officials allowed to perform marriage ceremonies in Texas. He thanked Muslim activists who helped write House Bill 2039, including Insiya Aziz of Emgage Action, for testifying at a hearing on the measure.
Talarico has said he had met Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, atheists, and agnostics who were “more Christ-like” than some Christians he serves with in the Texas legislature.
During a 2021 invocation on the Texas House floor, Talarico prayed to “Holy Mystery,” referenced the Torah, Koran, Gita, Dharma, and First Epistle of John, and ended by praying in “all your many names.”
Talarico has also opposed displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools, calling a Texas law requiring such displays “deeply unChristian” and saying he did not want the government forcing religion “down my throats.” During legislative debate over the 2025 Texas law, he said the proposal “does violence to both Christianity and Judaism.”
He has also criticized private school vouchers as part of what he called a “Christian Nationalist movement,” saying during a 2024 South by Southwest appearance that vouchers take tax dollars out of public schools and give them to “unaccountable private schools,” usually Christian private schools.
Talarico has also tied religious arguments to abortion and transgender issues. In a 2022 church sermon, he said abortion restrictions meant “every one of our neighbors with a uterus became the property of the state,” adding that “nothing, nothing is more unchristian than that.” In a May 2026 interview, he said the Bible is “silent on abortion” and argued abortion policy is not “a place for the state.” In 2021, while opposing legislation related to women’s sports, Talarico said, “God is non-binary,” and stated that “trans children are God’s children.”
Rev. Jim Rigby, pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, where Talarico has been actively involved and whom Talarico has described as a mentor, said after the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner that the MAGA movement’s “heart” is the Confederacy and that the America it wants to return to is “the Confederate States of America.”
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming

Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'