The Republican Party of New Mexico was hit by what appears to be a terrorist attack at its headquarters in Albuquerque on Sunday. A fire broke out in the building after an unknown person or persons threw a Molotov cocktail (a crude homemade bomb) at the building, causing a fire, and vandalized it with spray paint.
The attack comes on the heels of numerous other terrorist attacks on Republicans and supporters of Donald Trump, particularly those who own Tesla electric automobiles or those who have American flags outside their homes.
Tesla is a car brand developed by Elon Musk, who President Trump has put in charge of downsizing the government through the Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump, himself, was the subject of at least two assassination attempts last year.
Sunday’s assault occurred just before 6 am. Albuquerque Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire at the building on San Francisco Road NE. It took only about five minutes for firefighters to extinguish the blaze, but significant damage was done to the entryway and smoke damage was found throughout the building, which was not occupied at the time. The letters “ICE=KKK” were sprayed on the building, indicating the attack was politically motivated.
Republican Party Chairwoman Amy Barela condemned the attack as “a blatant attack not just on our party, but on the values of freedom and democracy we stand for.”
Barela said in a statement: “This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a disturbing pattern of politically motivated violence that has plagued our country—fueled in part by the silence and implicit encouragement from progressive leaders who refuse to condemn these acts. Their failure to stand against political violence has created an environment where attacks like this are not only possible but increasingly frequent.
“We are deeply relieved that no one was harmed in what could have been a tragic and deadly attack. Those who resort to violence to undermine our state and nation must be held accountable, and our state leaders must reinforce through decisive action that these cowardly attacks will not be tolerated. We are working closely with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), local law enforcement, and federal investigators. We are committed to providing every piece of evidence necessary to bring those responsible to justice and ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We will not allow New Mexico’s broken criminal justice system to dilute the seriousness of this attack,” she said.
The Republican Party of New Mexico will not be silenced, Barela said.
“We will emerge from this stronger, more united, and more determined to fight for the people of New Mexico and the future of our country. Let us not forget: it was the Democrat Party that once supported the formation of the KKK, pushed Jim Crow laws, and defended slavery. Today, we see the same dangerous tendencies play out in new forms—attempts to suppress free speech, silence dissent, and use fear to control the political narrative. Our fight is not just for our party—it’s for every New Mexican who wants a safer, freer, and more accountable state. We will never back down,” Barela said.
The investigation into the attack includes local fire and police, as well as the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
National GOP Chairman Michael Whatley issued a statement about the attack: “I’m grateful no one was hurt and look forward to the perpetrators being held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Whether it’s vandalizing Tesla dealerships or burning GOP HQs, the Left is completely out of control. Every Democrat who doesn’t condemn violence like this is responsible for it.”
But the Democrats are, in fact, following the directions of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who said that after Trump was elected, they would fight Trump “in the streets.”
And it’s not even summer yet.
