Ft Wayne Times

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, a U.S. Congressman from Indiana's 3rd district, shared a series of posts on his official Twitter account between September 9 and September 10, 2025, addressing international conflict, domestic recognition in the arts sector, and political division in the United States.

On September 9, 2025, Stutzman commented on Israel’s military actions against Hamas by stating: "Israel is destroying Hamas before our very eyes. Netanyahu has backed up his words with swift and decisive action. Just like the US did with Soleimani, Israel has taken out clear and present threats to their nation!" The reference to Soleimani pertains to the U.S. operation in January 2020 that resulted in the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, which was justified by U.S. officials as an act of self-defense against imminent threats.

Later that day, Stutzman addressed staffing decisions at a prominent cultural institution: "If you do your job well you should be recognized for it. Glad to see the Kennedy Center choosing to keep employees who prioritize the theater over woke theatrics." The Kennedy Center is known as a major performing arts venue in Washington D.C., often involved in national discussions about funding and programming choices.

On September 10, 2025, Stutzman expressed support for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and called for unity amid political strife: "Praying for Charlie Kirk and his family. I am tired of seeing people hurt because of political differences. We shouldn’t be a country of left and right. We should all see we are Americans and this is unacceptable."

These statements come during ongoing debates over U.S.-Israel relations, workplace culture within American institutions such as the Kennedy Center—which frequently faces scrutiny regarding its artistic direction—and heightened political polarization across the country.