Rep. Brandon Gill, a Republican from Texas, opened his speech at the 2026 GOP midterm convention in Dallas with a land acknowledgment that diverged sharply from the Democratic practice of recognizing Native American tribes associated with the land.
Gill stated: “I’d like to acknowledge that we stand here today in the great state of Texas and the United States of America is the ancestral homeland of great American patriots, pioneers, and explorers who put down roots, fought for freedom all over the globe, and bled and died to build the greatest civilization ever known to man.” The Republican audience responded with applause.
Reaction and Context
Gill framed his remarks as a rebuttal to what he described as Democratic efforts to begin events with land acknowledgments that he characterized as implying the U.S. was built on “stolen land.” In a video posted to X, he added: “We are done apologizing for our country.”
Comedian Adam Carolla also referenced land acknowledgments during his convention speech, stating: “This is the greatest land in the history of mankind. And if that bothers you, you, your communist and hippy buddies should get the hell off it!” The audience laughed in response.
Background on Land Acknowledgments
Land acknowledgments have become increasingly common at public events, particularly in Democratic-leaning institutions, as a way to recognize Indigenous peoples who historically inhabited the land. However, the practice has drawn mixed reactions from Native American communities and political commentators.
Writing in The New York Times, Reid Walker, a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, argued that land acknowledgments often reduce complex Indigenous relationships to land into a performative gesture. Walker noted that such acknowledgments can misrepresent Indigenous views, which historically emphasized reciprocity and stewardship rather than ownership. He added that meaningful acknowledgment should lead to action, not just words.
Political Responses
Gill’s remarks were widely reported by conservative media outlets, which framed his speech as a bold counter to what they described as a “woke” trend. Fox News and other conservative sources highlighted Gill’s assertion that most Americans do not want elected officials to “apologize for the country.”
Democratic officials in Michigan and Texas have also used land acknowledgments at their conventions, though one Michigan Democratic Party official faced criticism after mispronouncing the names of the tribes she attempted to honor.
Broader Implications
The exchange at the GOP convention reflects ongoing political debates over how U.S. history and national identity are framed in public discourse. Supporters of traditional land acknowledgments argue they promote awareness of Indigenous histories, while critics—including some Indigenous voices—view them as symbolic gestures that lack substantive follow-through.
The event also underscores the polarization of cultural symbols in American politics, where even longstanding practices like land acknowledgments have become contested terrain in broader ideological battles.