Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley's latest attempt to portray himself as a paragon of manliness backfired when he decided to lecture men at a religious event about the virtues of "being a mighty man of valor."
The Stronger Men's Conference—the event in question—was the perfect platform for the author of the book Manhood to expound on the importance of strength and power bestowed upon men by the almighty.
But Hawley's attempt to promote his version of masculinity fell flat when Twitter users lambasted him for his less-than-heroic actions during the Capitol riot.
As Hawley's critics were quick to remind him, it's hard to take a lecture on valor seriously when the lecturer had to run for his life just hours after pumping his fists in solidarity with the very same insurrectionists that stormed the Capitol.
You can hear what Hawley said in the video below.
\u201c.\u2066@_strongermen_\u2069 \u2066@jamesriver\u2069\u201d— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1682889904
Last year, the House Select Committee tasked with investigating the January 6 insurrection revealed surveillance footage of Hawley fleeing the United States Capitol during the attack he helped incite.
The footage, one of the latest developments during hearings into the insurrection—which took place when a mob of former President Donald Trump's supporters attacked the nation's seat of government on the false premise the 2020 general election had been stolen—was all the more striking because of Hawley's actions ahead of the event.
Hawley was the first Senator to object to the certification of President Joe Biden's electoral win and a now-infamous photograph taken outside the Capitol shows him indicating his support for rioters with a fist-pump.
Many mocked his remarks by resurfacing the footage of him running like his life depended on it.
\u201c@HawleyMO @_strongermen_ You definitely have leg muscles.\u201d— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1682869354
\u201c@HawleyMO @_strongermen_ Stronger men.\u201d— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1682869354
\u201c@HawleyMO @_strongermen_ This you?\u201d— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1682869354
\u201c@HawleyMO @_strongermen_ @jamesriver \u201cwhat it means to be a mighty man of valor\u201d\u201d— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1682889904
Others called out his hypocrisy, replying directly to the Senator's tweet.
\u201c@HawleyMO @_strongermen_ @jamesriver Didn\u2019t I see you running away cowardly?\u201d— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1682889904
\u201c@HawleyMO @_strongermen_ @jamesriver You\u2019re a coward. Wearing a t-shirt that is two sizes too small will not change that.\u201d— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1682889904
\u201c@HawleyMO @_strongermen_ @jamesriver All I hear is \u201cJesus wants you to skip leg day\u201d\u201d— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1682889904
\u201c@HawleyMO @_strongermen_ @jamesriver Where does running in fear rate on the masculinity scale?\u201d— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1682889904
Hawley's actions were heavily criticized, particularly by Michael Fanone, a former D.C. Metropolitan Police officer who sustained a traumatic brain injury when he was beaten with a flagpole by rioters during the attack.
Fanone, who attended the hearing as a guest of the House Select Committee, said Hawley's actions betray the depths of his cowardice when mere hours before he'd welcomed rioters to the Capitol.
