Just weeks before a horrific shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum, Democrats rolled out the red carpet for the father of the accused gunman at President Trump’s address to Congress.
According to Daily Mail, this staggering connection ties Rep. Jesús 'Chuy' García (D-Ill.) to Eric Rodriguez, a disabled Iraq War veteran, whose son, Elias Rodriguez, now stands charged with a brutal double murder motivated by radical views on Palestine and Gaza.
Let’s rewind to March, when Rep. García invited Eric Rodriguez as his special guest to President Trump’s speech, hailing him as a “hero” for advocating against cuts to veterans’ services. The congressman’s office even celebrated Eric as a champion for unionized federal workers. Talk about a photo op that aged like milk.
Eric Rodriguez, who has spoken out at Democratic events with fiery rhetoric like “Veterans, we're under attack,” seemed to embody the kind of grassroots activism the left loves to showcase. But while he was decrying slashes to VA benefits, no one could have predicted the dark turn his family’s story would take.
Enter Elias Rodriguez, Eric’s 30-year-old son, a University of Illinois Chicago grad who dove headfirst into far-left causes. From donating $500 to Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign to joining the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Elias built a resume of radical activism, including anti-capitalist protests.
Working as an “oral history researcher” for TheHistoryMakers, Elias focused on African American communities, but his public actions leaned hard into divisive ideologies. It’s the kind of resume that raises eyebrows when paired with his alleged confession to police: “I did it for Palestine.” Well, turns out zealotry doesn’t justify violence.
Fast forward to the chilling incident at the Capital Jewish Museum, where Elias is charged with gunning down Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, a young couple leaving an event. The motive, as stated in charging documents, was a twisted show of support for Gaza.
This wasn’t just a random act; it was a calculated strike that President Trump condemned as rooted in “hatred and radicalism” on social media. His words, “So sad that such things can happen,” echo the heartbreak many feel over this senseless loss.
Rep. García, quick to distance himself, called the shooting a “horrible senseless act of antisemitism” and expressed grief for the victims. But one has to wonder if the optics of parading Eric Rodriguez as a community hero just weeks prior stings a bit now. Actions meet consequences.
Eric Rodriguez himself has a history of anti-Trump activism, protesting federal cuts with passion. His statements like, “They're slashing staff, crushing unions” show a man deeply invested in his cause, yet silent on his son’s alleged crimes.
Elias’s mother, Elvira Rodriguez, dodged questions from the press, simply stating, “I have no comment.” It’s understandable—how do you even begin to address such a tragedy tied to your own blood?
Meanwhile, Rep. García’s spokesperson told the New York Post, “We don't know his family,” attempting to sever any perceived link between the congressman’s guest and the shooter. It’s a fair point, but inviting someone to a high-profile event does come with a certain responsibility to know who you’re amplifying, doesn’t it?
President Trump didn’t hold back, declaring on social media that these “horrible D.C. killings” tied to antisemitism “must end, NOW!” His call for unity against hatred is a reminder that radical ideologies, no matter the source, have no place in a civilized society.
Rep. García, in a social media post, mourned the lives lost and rejected violence as a path to justice, stating, “My heart is with the victims.” It’s a necessary sentiment, but the shadow of his earlier praise for Eric—“someone who has served his country”—looms large over this mess.
As the nation grapples with this tragedy, the connection between a Democratic invite and a devastating crime leaves a bitter taste. How do we balance honoring veterans like Eric while ensuring the ideologies of those around them don’t spiral into violence? That’s a question no one seems ready to answer, but it’s one we can’t ignore.
