U.S. Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX) sparked controversy during an interview on "The Benny Show" with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, asserting that the average IQ in Somalia "hovers around 70," which he equated to the "threshold for mentally handicapped," further claiming Somalis are "a net drain on the society." The remarks, made during a podcast episode around April 20-21, 2026, quickly drew widespread criticism for their racial implications.
The comments were made in the context of a broader discussion on immigration, where Rep. Gill linked perceived intelligence levels to societal contributions and welfare usage. Benny Johnson reportedly referenced data from "Grok" to support claims about national IQ averages in countries like Haiti and Somalia. Rep. Gill "vehemently agreed" with Johnson, suggesting a correlation between IQ and welfare use among "migrants in many countries" who, he argued, have not integrated into the "modern American world" and economy.
These statements align with Rep. Gill's previous legislative efforts, including his announcement in February 2026 to introduce a bill pausing Somali immigration to the United States for 25 years. He cited concerns over "fraud, abuse of the welfare system, and a lack of assimilation," also expressing worries about the "increasing influence of Islam in Texas."
The remarks have been widely condemned, with journalist Aaron Rupar stating in a tweet, "> "The average IQ in Somalia hovers around 70, and that's the threshold for mentally handicapped … they're a net drain on the society" -- even by MAGA standards, the unvarnished racism of this interview of Rep. Brandon Gill by Benny Johnson is breathtaking." Other outlets described the comments as "overtly racist" and based on "long-debunked" comparisons.
Mainstream scientific consensus, including statements from the American Psychological Association (APA), refutes a genetic basis for observed differences in average IQ scores between racial or national groups. Experts attribute such variations primarily to environmental factors such as socioeconomic status, education, nutrition, and cultural biases inherent in testing methodologies, emphasizing that the concept of race itself is a social construct rather than a biological one.
